Johnson comes second in 400m semis

Hot favourite Michael Johnson eased into the final of the men's 400 metres at the Sydney Olympic Games on Sunday.

The only surprise was that he did not win his heat. Running at a canter, Johnson finished in 44.65 secs behind teammate Alvin Harrison, who clocked 44.53.

Johnson appeared happy for Harrison.

Johnson was coasting in the first semi-final, seemed to slacken off so Harrison could win with Jamaica's Gregory Haughton third.

Harrison, 26, from Salinas, California, has won both his heats, but Johnson - in his last Olympics - is expected to beat him.

Johnson, 33, seemed well in control of his destiny during the closing stages, despite Harrison winning.

In the second semi-final, Antonio Pettigrew of the United States won from Jamaica's Danny McFarlane and South Africa's Hendrick Mokganyetsi.

Pettigrew's 45:24 was significantly quicker than those of the place getters in Harrison's race.

McFarlane was a fair way back on 45:38 with Mokganyetsi completing the distance in 45:52.

The field for the men's 400m final at the 2000 Olympic Games is:

Alvin Harrison (United States), Michael Johnson (United States), Gregory Haughton (Jamaica), Claro Sanderlei Parrela (Brazil), Antonio Pettigrew (United States), Danny McFarlane (Jamaica), Hendrick Mokganyetsi (South Africa) and Robert MacCowiak (Poland).

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