Athletics at the 1979 Pan American Games – Men's 400 metres
Rank Heat Name Nationality Time Notes
1 1 Willie Smith United States 46.68 Q
2 3 Tony Darden United States 46.91 Q
3 2 Delmo da Silva Brazil 47.27 Q
4 1 Bert Cameron Jamaica 47.29 Q
5 1 Joseph Coombs Trinidad and Tobago 47.29 Q
6 2 Glenn Bogue Canada 47.52 Q
6 3 Clyde Edwards Barbados 47.52 Q
8 3 Colin Bradford Jamaica 47.56 Q
9 2 Alberto Juantorena Cuba 47.59 Q
10 1 Carlos Álvarez Cuba 47.80 Q
11 3 Antônio Dias Ferreira Brazil 47.81 Q
12 2 Michael Solomon Trinidad and Tobago 47.95 Q
13 2 Fred Sowerby Antigua and Barbuda 48.15 Q
14 3 Gregory Simons Bermuda 48.24 Q
15 1 Brian Saunders Canada 48.61 Q
16 3 Anatolio Ramírez Dominican Republic 48.66 q
17 2 Gerold Pawirodikromo Suriname 48.78
18 2 Randolph Wheatley Virgin Islands 48.89
19 1 Francisco Solis Dominican Republic 49.64
20 3 Rigoberto Meléndez Honduras 52.59
Results -- Heats
Held on 11 July
The men's 400 metres sprint competition of the athletics events at the 1979 Pan American Games took place at the Estadio Sixto Escobar. The defending Pan American Games champion was Ronnie Ray of the United States.