The men's 200 metres event at the 2002 Commonwealth Games took place on 28 and 29 July at the City of Manchester Stadium in Manchester, England. Frankie Fredericks of Namibia won the gold in 20.06 seconds eight years after he won the same event in Victoria. Marlon Devonish at his home Games finished in second, taking the silver medal in a personal best time of 20.19. His compatriot and Olympic silver medallist Darren Campbell won the bronze with a photo required to separate him from Dominic Demeritte of the Bahamas with both crossing the line in 20.21 seconds. This was a season's best for Campbell and a national record for Demeritte.
This was the ninth running of the 200 metres event at the Commonwealth Games after converting to metric at the 1970 Edinburgh Games. A 220-yard event was contested between 1930 and 1966. 49 competitors from 31 nations entered the event. Kim Collins, world bronze medallist and who achieved Saint Kitts and Nevis' first ever Commonwealth medal after winning the 100 metre event earlier in the meet, decided to withdraw from the 200. Whilst the 100 metre silver medallist Nigeria's Uchenna Emedolu was disqualified in the quarter finals.
The defending champion from Kuala Lumpur, Julian Golding was unable to compete in the English selection trials as he was not fully fit following injury. The silver medallist from four years ago, Wales' Christian Malcolm managed to reach the final again and placed 8th.
Records Prior to this competition, the existing records were as follows:
+ Records before the 2002 Commonwealth Games Record Time (s) Athlete (nation) Meet Location Date Ref World record 19.32 Olympics Atlanta, United States 1 August 1996 Commonwealth record 19.68 Olympics Atlanta, United States 1 August 1996 Games record 19.97 Commonwealth Games Victoria, Canada 26 August 1994
Results Heats The heats were held on 28 July, starting at 11:55 in the morning.
Qualification Rules: First 4 in each heat (Q) and the best 4 of remaining athletes (q) advance to the quarter finals.
Heat 1 + Results of heat 1 Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes 1 20.61 2 21.01 3 21.12 4 21.49 5 21.73 6 23.03 Wind: +0.5 m/s
Heat 2 + Results of heat 2 Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes 1 20.77 2 21.11 3 21.25 , 4 21.35 5 22.00 6 22.11 7 22.46 Wind: +1.3 m/s
Heat 3 + Results of heat 3 Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes 1 20.61 2 20.65 3 20.81 4 20.95 , 5 21.04 , 6 21.27 7 23.13 Wind: 0.0 m/s
Heat 4 + Results of heat 4 Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes 1 20.91 2 21.07 3 21.60 4 21.75 Wind: +0.3 m/s
Heat 5 + Results of heat 5 Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes 1 20.87 2 21.16 3 21.18 4 21.93 5 22.23 6 22.91 Wind: +0.7 m/s
Heat 6 + Results of heat 6 Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes 1 20.85 2 20.96 3 21.39 4 21.85 5 24.11 Wind: +0.3 m/s
Heat 7 + Results of heat 7 Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes 1 20.91 2 21.17 3 21.52 4 22.27 Wind: +0.3 m/s
Quarter finals The quarter finals were held on 28 July, starting at 19:48 in the evening.
Qualification: First 4 of each heat qualified directly (Q) for the semi finals.
Quarter final 1 + Results of quarter final 1 Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes 1 20.49 2 20.60 3 20.61 4 20.73 5 21.20 6 21.89 7 21.97 Wind: +0.8 m/s
Quarter final 2 + Results of quarter final 2 Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes 1 20.58 2 20.70 , 3 20.99 4 21.02 5 21.31 6 21.50 7 21.50 Wind: +0.5 m/s
Quarter final 3 + Results of quarter final 3 Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes 1 20.77 2 20.90 3 21.14 4 21.17 5 21.28 6 21.58 7 21.71 Wind: +1.3 m/s
Quarter final 4 + Results of quarter final 4 Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes 1 20.63 2 20.73 3 21.24 4 21.24 5 21.29 6 22.10 7 22.15 8 22.68 Wind: -0.40 m/s
Semi finals The semi finals were held on 29 July, starting at 18:47 in the evening.
Qualification: First 4 of each heat qualified directly (Q) for the final.
Semi final 1 + Results of semi final 1 Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes 1 20.34 2 20.55 3 20.57 4 20.58 , 5 21.06 6 21.09 7 21.11 8 21.16 Wind: +0.40 m/s
Semi final 2 + Results of semi final 2 Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes 1 20.43 2 20.55 3 20.55 , 4 20.57 5 20.61 6 21.02 7 21.13 8 21.17 Wind: +0.40 m/s
Final The final was held at 20:14 on 29 July.
+ Results of the final Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes 20.06 20.19 20.21 4 20.21 5 20.29 6 20.35 7 20.36 8 20.39 Wind: +1.4 m/s
References