Further Information 

Competition Stats

AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS:
400m: 2002 - heat, 2003 - 5th, 2004 - 3rd, 2005 - 2nd, 2006 - 1st, 2007 - DNC, 2008 - 2nd

INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:
World Championships: 2003 - 4 x 400m 3rd heat (split 46.8), 2005 - 400m 8th (45.46), 2007 - 400m 4th semi (44.95), 4 x 400m DNC (inj.)
Olympic Games: 2004 - 4 x 400m 2nd (3:00.60, split 46.12)
Commonwealth Games: 2006 - 400m 1st (44.73), 4 x 400m 1st (3.00.93, split 45.1)

ANNUAL PROGRESSION:
400 metres:
2002 47.14
2003 46.07
2004 45.63
2005 45.31
2006 44.73
2007 44.82
2008 45.99

200 metres:
2003 21.75
2004 21.11
2005 20.88
2006 DNC
2007 20.79/20.76w

EVENTS / PERSONAL BESTS:
200 metres: 20.79 - Melbourne, 2/03/07
400 metres: 44.73 - Melbourne, 22/03/06
Long jump: 7.18m (-2.0) - Perth, 2/02/02 [7.28 (+2.5) - Perth, 9/02/02]

Interesting Facts

Sporting Career

A former long jumper, John made the move from Perth to Sydney in the winter of 2002 to train in Michael Khmel’s sprint squad. The relocation quickly paid dividends when, in February 2003, John ran 46.07 and was selected for the World Championships in Paris.

There he clocked 46.8 on the first leg of the Australian 4 x 400m relay team, which missed the final by one position. It represents the only major international in which John has competed to date where he did not run in a final.

John was arguably the big improver of the 2003-04 domestic season and was rewarded with a bronze medal at the nationals in a PB of 45.63 and selection for the Olympics. In Athens, he ran the first leg of the 4 x 400m relay, which in a major surprise won the silver medal.

He spent the early part of the 2004-05 domestic season training in California under renowned US coach John Smith, returning to place second at the nationals. In May and July, he ran new PBs of 45.45 and 45.31, moving to No. 12 on the Australian all-time list.

But he surpassed expectations at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki where he ran very competitively, progressing to the final to finish eighth in 45.46.

In what was arguably then Australia's most competitive track event, John ran a PB to win his first national title in 2006 that doubled as the selection trial for the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

He dominated the 400m at the Games, defeating a world-class field in yet another PB of 44.73. He doubled his gold medal collection when he ran an inspiring lead-off leg in the 4 x 400m relay team.

A quiet period followed until he resumed domestic competition in February 2007 with a dashing 45.07 run at the Oceania permit meet in Sydney. A hamstring injury forced him out of the nationals but he was nonetheless selected for Osaka.

European season appearances included a 45.56 time in Glasgow in June, 45.05 in Madrid and 44.92 at the IAAF Super Grand Prix meet in Monaco in July and 45.22 at the IAAF Super Grand Prix meet in Sheffield in August.

At the World Championships, expectations for John were high - including those he had put on himself. Keen to better his 2005 performance, he finished second in his heat in 44.82 - nearing his personal best time - and progressed to the semi-finals. Despite producing another sub-45-second run (44.95), John finished fourth and missed a spot in the final.

However, he did write history. Both of his runs in Osaka were inside the previous best time produced by an Australian at the World Championships.

John has been chosen for nomination to the Australian Olympic Committee for selection into the Australian team for the 2008 Olympic Games.