42.9 400 SPLIT FOR MICHAEL JOHNSON, THE FASTEST 400 EVER RECORDED! The 4 x 400m Relays at the 1993 Athletics World Championships hosted in Stuttgart Germany were both won by Team USA in two of the fastest times ever. On the women's side Gwen Torrence led off the American team with a sub 50 second clocking. Up next was Maicel Malone-Wallace and her sub 50 second split. She handed off to silver medalist Natasha Kaiser-Brown (not Kaiser Sose as Chris Berman would call her!), who promptly ran a low 49 point leg. On anchor was 1993 400m world champion Jearl Miles (pre Miles-Clark days). Miles blasted a 48.8 split to bring the team home in 3:16.71. On the men's side Andrew Vallmon ran sub 45 from the blocks before handing off to 1992 Olympic gold medalist Quincy Watts. Watts ran low 44 before passing to world record holder Butch Reynolds. Reynolds ran a very impressive 43.2, but would not even run the fastest split of the day as he exchanged the baton to Michael Johnson. Johnson proceeded to light up the track with an amazing 42.9 solo split. The Americans demolished the field to set the still standing world record of 2:54.29. This is still the most amazing team ever put together with all four men running sub 45 for the first time in history. (less info)