The runners competed in the heats on July 30th. A total of six runs were completed, from which the four best runners reached the semifinals, which took place on July 31st. In the three semi-finals, the first three starters qualified for the final on August 2nd.
Note: The qualified athletes are highlighted in light blue.
Prelims
July 30, 1948, 4:00 p.m.
Not all times have been recorded.
August 2, 1948, 4 p.m.
The American Mal Whitfield was the top favorite in the final. Other medal candidates were the Jamaican Arthur Wint, the New Zealander Doug Harris and the French world best of the year Marcel Hansenne, Harris was eliminated in the semi-finals. Chef d'Hôtel started the race quickly and was ahead on the first lap. Now Whitfield pushed ahead and tore a gap to his competitors. At the start of the target bend he had a five meter lead over Wint. The Jamaican was able to catch up with Whitfield once more, but could not reach him. Hansenne won the bronze medal. The first three stayed under 1:50 minutes.
Arthur Wint (JAM) and Marcel Hansenne (FRA) achieved the first medal wins in their countries in this discipline.
literature
Ekkehard zur Megede , The History of Olympic Athletics, Volume 2: 1948–1968, Verlag Bartels & Wernitz KG, Berlin, 1st edition 1969, pp. 19–21