Wiseman Were competes in a recent AK championship/HANDOUT
Wiseman Were is keeping his eyes on the prize as he heads into today’s 400m hurdles semi-finals, buoyed by a personal best performance in the opening round of the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
Were clocked an impressive 48.27 seconds in the heats, shaving valuable time off his previous best and earning a place in the semi-finals as one of the fastest non-automatic qualifiers.
“I’m really encouraged by my performance,” Wiseman said after the race. “Running a personal best in Lane Two isn’t easy, so I’m taking that as a strong sign. Now the focus is on the semis — and beyond.”
Despite finishing fifth in Heat One, Wiseman’s time was enough to secure his progression, with only the top four in each heat qualifying automatically, alongside the next fastest four across all heats.
The race was won by Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba in 48.03, followed by Britain’s Tyri Donovan (48.26) and American Chris Robinson, who was awarded third ahead of Wiseman, also with a time of 48.27.
Wiseman admitted that Lane Two, typically seen as disadvantageous in the 400m hurdles due to tighter curves and visibility challenges, added an extra layer of difficulty.
“I usually feel more comfortable in the middle lanes,” he said. “Lane Two is always tricky in such technical races, so to run my best time there really gives me confidence moving forward.”
This is Were’s second appearance at the World Championships, having competed in Budapest 2023, where he missed out on a place in the final after finishing sixth in his semi-final with a time of 49.40.
He believes the improvements he has made since then are a testament to his progress. “You can’t afford to stay stagnant in this event,” he said.
“Just recently, people were running 49 seconds and that was competitive. Now 48 is the new standard. The sport is evolving, and we must evolve with it.”
Describing the 400m hurdles as “an art that requires precision,” Wiseman highlighted the importance of rhythm, timing, and execution.
“This isn’t just a race. It’s a craft. Every step, every hurdle matters. If you miss your stride early, it can throw off your entire race,” explained the 28-year-old.
He remains grounded but hopeful.
“I’m taking it one step at a time. We’ve cleared the first hurdle; now it’s time to focus on the semi-final. The goal is always the final — and from there, anything is possible.”
Were opened his 2025 season with a win in the 400m at the first Uganda Trials, clocking 47.04. He followed that up with a second-place finish in his speciality event at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix, where he ran 49.07, before claiming third at the 115th Drake Relays in the US with a time of 49.43.
