# Athletics at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games – Men's 400 metres

The men's 400 metres event at the 1974 British Commonwealth Games was held on 25 and 26 January at the Queen Elizabeth II Park in Christchurch, New Zealand.

## Medallists

Medal winners :
| Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Charles Asati Kenya | Silver Ayoo Uganda | Claver Kamanya Tanzania |

## Results
### Heats

Held on 25 January

#### Qualification for semifinal

The first 3 in each heat (Q) and the next 1 fastest (q) qualified for the semifinals.
Heats results :
| Rank | Heat | Name | Nationality | Time | Notes |
| 1 | 1 | Silver Ayoo | Uganda | 46.4 | Q |
| 2 | 1 | Kim Rowe | Jamaica | 47.1 | Q |
| 3 | 1 | Bruce Field | Australia | 47.66 | Q |
| 4 | 1 | Bruce Ijirighwo | Nigeria | 47.91 | |
| 5 | 1 | Michael Delaney | Wales | 48.17 | |
| 6 | 1 | Motsapi Moorosi | Lesotho | 48.87 | |
| 7 | 1 | Seru Gukilau | Fiji | 50.98 | |
| 1 | 2 | Claver Kamanya | Tanzania | 46.9 | Q |
| 2 | 2 | Seymour Newman | Jamaica | 47.0 | Q |
| 3 | 2 | Julius Sang | Kenya | 47.7 | Q |
| 4 | 2 | Enoch Mtelemuka | Malawi | 49.74 | |
| 5 | 2 | Samuela Bulai | Fiji | 50.45 | |
| 6 | 2 | Raymond Hearn | England | 52.19 | |
| | 2 | Laurie D'Arcy | Australia | DNS | |
| 1 | 3 | Charles Asati | Kenya | 46.3 | Q |
| 2 | 3 | Pius Olowu | Uganda | 46.52 | Q |
| 3 | 3 | Mamman Makama | Nigeria | 46.7 | Q |
| 4 | 3 | Bill Hooker | Australia | 47.24 | q |
| 5 | 3 | Richard Endean | New Zealand | 47.94 | |
| 6 | 3 | Samuela Yavala | Fiji | 48.54 | |
| 7 | 3 | Bambo Fatty | Gambia | 50.07 | |
| 8 | 3 | Blackie Masalila | Botswana | 50.99 | |
| 1 | 4 | Francis Musyoki | Kenya | 46.8 | Q |
| 2 | 4 | Philip Kear | New Zealand | 47.7 | Q |
| 3 | 4 | Trevor Campbell | Jamaica | 47.74 | Q |
| 4 | 4 | Omari Abdallah | Tanzania | 48.24 | |
| 5 | 4 | Musa Yaro | Nigeria | 49.03 | |
| 6 | 4 | Wilfred Kareng | Botswana | 50.02 | |
| 7 | 4 | Wavala Kali | Papua New Guinea | 50.20 | |
| 1 | 5 | David Jenkins | Scotland | 47.0 | Q |
| 2 | 5 | Bevan Smith | New Zealand | 47.2 | Q |
| 3 | 5 | John Wilson | England | 47.5 | Q |
| 4 | 5 | Joseph Chivers | Northern Ireland | 47.76 | |
| 5 | 5 | Samuel Kakonge | Uganda | 48.80 | |
| 6 | 5 | Jacques Bazerd | Mauritius | 50.30 | |
| 7 | 5 | Stephen Higgins | Isle of Man | 52.91 | |

### Semifinals

Held on 26 January

#### Qualification for final

The first 4 in each semifinal (Q) qualified directly for the final.
Semifinal results :
| Rank | Heat | Name | Nationality | Time | Notes |
| 1 | 1 | Claver Kamanya | Tanzania | 46.2 | Q |
| 2 | 1 | Bevan Smith | New Zealand | 46.50 | Q |
| 3 | 1 | Pius Olowu | Uganda | 46.7 | Q |
| 4 | 1 | Mamman Makama | Nigeria | 46.9 | Q |
| 5 | 1 | Kim Rowe | Jamaica | 47.12 | |
| 6 | 1 | Julius Sang | Kenya | 47.23 | |
| | 1 | Trevor Campbell | Jamaica | DNF | |
| | 1 | Bill Hooker | Australia | DNS | |
| 1 | 2 | Silver Ayoo | Uganda | 45.68 | Q |
| 2 | 2 | Charles Asati | Kenya | 45.68 | Q |
| 3 | 2 | David Jenkins | Scotland | 45.9 | Q |
| 4 | 2 | Bruce Field | Australia | 46.11 | Q |
| 5 | 2 | Francis Musyoki | Kenya | 46.39 | |
| 6 | 2 | Seymour Newman | Jamaica | 46.82 | |
| 7 | 2 | John Wilson | England | 47.06 | |
| 8 | 2 | Philip Kear | New Zealand | 47.13 | |

### Final

Held on 26 January
Final result :
| Rank | Lane | Name | Nationality | Time |
| | 6 | Charles Asati | Kenya | 46.04 |
| | 8 | Silver Ayoo | Uganda | 46.07 |
| | 1 | Claver Kamanya | Tanzania | 46.16 |
| 4 | 7 | David Jenkins | Scotland | 46.46 |
| 5 | 4 | Bruce Field | Australia | 46.58 |
| 6 | 2 | Bevan Smith | New Zealand | 46.60 |
| 7 | 3 | Pius Olowu | Uganda | 46.84 |
| 8 | 5 | Mamman Makama | Nigeria | 47.19 |