THE PRICE OF ADMISSION to the semis was high: The slowest regionals qualifier ran 45.61, and 13 men timed better than 45.00. They were led by defending champion Samuel Ogazi (Alabama) at 43.82. Florida junior Justin Braun (43.99) and Georgia frosh Jonathan Simms (44.02) and Sidi Njie (44.35) represented the next generation of U.S. 400 talent.
Purdue’s Samuel Vessat led the first semi from the gun until the last 10 meters, when he was caught by Njie and (almost) Jordan Pierre (Arkansas). No one else was close to their 44.82-44.85-44.89 times.
Braun and Simms dominated semi 2 from the start, and finished in that order in seemingly relaxed 44.97–45.03 times. The others were more than a half-second back.
Ogazi made semi 3 look very easy, coasting to a 44.73, ahead of Georgetown Trinidadian Jaden Marchan’s 45.26. The anticipated blizzard of sub-45s did not occur, as only 45.56 was required for a finals lane.
Two days later, the finalists went to their blocks for what would be the greatest 400 race in collegiate championship history. From inside out: TJ Tomlyanovich (Arkansas), Amal Glasgow (LSU), Pierre, Simms, Braun, Ogazi, Njie, Vessat, Marchan.
Braun was off fastest at the gun, closing on Ogazi and leading down the backstretch, into a slight Hayward wind. At 200, Braun led by a short meter from Ogazi, then a gap to Njie and Vessat, with Simms well behind them.
With 150 left, Ogazi’s great strength kicked in, and by the final straight he was a meter ahead of Braun, with Vessat and the rapidly oncoming Simms another 4 back.
Down the stretch, Ogazi, running hard, continued to pull away, and Simms, consuming real estate with each long stride, moved with him past Vessat and a fading Braun. The latter two were also passed by Njie, who closed perhaps fastest of all.
The times were fabulous. Ogazi’s 43.38 shattered the collegiate and meet record, and moved him to No. 4 on the world all-time list. Simms’ 43.92 makes him the fifth-fastest collegian ever and solidifies his position as the second-fastest world junior/U20 400 runner in history.
Njie and Vessat also scored PRs, and Pierre was 5th with a time that would have won all but six NCAA finals this century.
Asked afterward about his reaction to the time, Ogazi said, “It was a surprise, but it wasn’t a surprise at the same time, because I knew I had it in me to run that fast, because at regionals, that was the easiest race this year, so I wouldn’t lie. It wasn’t surprising. I just came here to win, and I did that. The first 200 I just had to push out, and then finish strong. I was getting pushed by my challenger [Braun], but we thank him.”
FINAL (June 12)
1. *Samuel Ogazi’ (Al-Ngr) 43.38 CR (old CR 43.61 Michael Norman [USC] ’18) (4, 4 W);
2. ***Jonathan Simms (Ga) 43.92 PR (2, 2 WJ, AJ; 5, 6 C);
3. ***Sidi Njie (Ga) 44.20 PR (4, =6 WJ, AJ; 9, x AmC);
4. *Samuel Vessat’ (Pur-Fra) 44.47 PR;
5. *Jordan Pierre (Ar) 44.49;
6. *Justin Braun (Fl) 44.79;
7. **Jaden Marchan’ (Gtn-Tri) 44.87;
8. **Amal Glasgow’ (LSU-StV) 45.14;
9. TJ Tomlyanovich (Ar) 45.84.
SEMIS (June 10)
I–1. Njie 44.82; 2. Vessat’ 44.85; 3. Pierre 44.89; 4. ***Malachi Austin’ (LSU-Guy) 45.67; 5. **Devan Crumpton (SC) 45.76; 6. *Eric Hemphill (TxAM) 46.05; 7. ***David Akhalu’ (Ia-Ngr) 46.21; 8. *Gabriel Clement (UCLA) 46.88.
II–1. Braun 44.97; 2. Simms 45.03; 3. Joey Gant (Prin) 45.60; 4. Kimar Farquharson’ (TxAM-Jam) 45.62; 5. **Grant Buckmiller (LSU) 45.70; 6. ***Jack Stadlman (USC) 46.01; 7. *Martin Kouyoumdjian’ (UTSA-Chl) 46.05; 8. *Kenny Carpenter (CoSt) 46.41.
III–1. Ogazi’ 44.73; 2. Marchan’ 45.26; 3. Glasgow’ 45.31; 4. Tomlyanovich 45.56; 5. *George Franks’ (Mia-Gre) 45.66; 6. Michael Joseph’ (Ks-StL) 45.75; 7. *Jayden Davis (AzSt) 46.24;… dnf—*Alexander Rhodes (Wa).
