THE OUTLOOK FOR THIS EVENT changed completely when 19-year-old Florida State frosh footballer Micahi Danzy, the season leader at 44.38, did not appear for his semi heat citing a “minor injury.” That left another 19-year-old, Alabama soph Samuel Ogazi, as the clear favorite, but he was only gradually recovering from injuries.
The ’24 NCAA runner-up and 7th-placer at the Paris Olympics was going to be a tough man to defeat, regardless. Texas A&M senior Auhmad Robinson, author of some impressive relay legs and 4th last year before a DQ, seemed to have the best chance, along with Arizona State soph Jayden Davis.
Nigerian star Ogazi fortified his standing by easily winning the first semi in 44.77, the day’s best time. South Florida senior Gabriel Moronta, USC junior William Jones, and Texas Tech junior DeSean Boyce were the only others to approach 45 seconds even. A 45.44 sufficed to qualify.
Ogazi drew lane 6 for the final, flanked by Joseph Taylor (Duke) and Moronta. Robinson was in 3, Boyce in 4, Jones in 8, and Davis on the outside in 9.
On this rare occasion, the predictable occurred. Lacking any stressful competition or meaningful reason to run all-out this early in a long season, Ogazi conserved his resources on a cool (60 degrees), cloudy day. He reached 200 well ahead at 21.1 and managed a controlled tempo victory in 44.84, the slowest winning time in a decade.
Behind him, the field strung out, and unlike recent NCAA finals, no one else broke 45. Moronta finished 2nd, Jones 3rd, Jordan Pierre (Arkansas–Pine Bluff) 4th and Boyce 5th. Davis and Robinson were a well-beaten 7th and 8th.
Then, in the meet’s most consequential officiating decision, Moronta was DQed for a lane violation. That moved Jones up to 2nd, added 2 points to USC’s total, and, eventually, led to a tie for the men’s team title for the Trojans.
“I’m so happy,” said Ogazi. “I’m working for this for months because I got injured, I think, in January, and was injured throughout the whole end of the season. I couldn’t do anything for 8 weeks, and then coming back now to get the title is a big achievement for me, and I’m proud.”
Asked about the conditions, he said, “The weather is bad, it’s kind of cold, and I’m not used to running in cold weather, but at the semis, it was so hot. Today, I was trying to do it but it didn’t come, but I have the gold, so that’s all that matters.”
MEN’S 400 RESULTS
FINAL (June 13)
1. **Samuel Ogazi’ (Al-Ngr) 44.84;
2. *William Jones (USC) 45.53;
3. **Jordan Pierre (ArPB) 45.75;
4. *DeSean Boyce’ (TxT-Bar) 45.78;
5. ***Joseph Taylor (Duke) 45.83;
6. **Jayden Davis (AzSt) 45.91;
7. Auhmad Robinson (TxAM) 46.07;
8. **Gabriel Clement (UCLA) 46.17;
… dq—[2]Gabriel Moronta’ (SFl-DR) [45.47].
SEMIS (June 11)
I–1. Ogazi’ 44.77; 2. Boyce’ 45.15; 3. Robinson 45.35; 4. Pierre 45.44 PR; 5. Hossam Hatib (TxAM) 45.94; 6. *Kelsey Singleton (SnMs) 46.14; 7. Malik Ricketts’ (Pitt-Jam) 46.36;… dnc—***Micahi Danzy (FlSt).
II–1. Moronta’ 45.10; 2. Jones 45.12; 3. Clement 45.35 PR; 4. **Will Floyd’ (Ga-Can) 45.47; 5. Shemar Chambers’ (Ga-Jam) 45.48; 6. Cutler Zamzow (TxAM) 45.65; 7. Anthony East (Hous) 46.07;… dq—***Edidiong Udo (OhSt).
III–1. Taylor 45.34; 2. Davis 45.44; 3. *Nathan Kent (Navy) 45.46; 4. *Shaemar Uter’ (TxT-Jam) 45.62; 5. *Jalen Williams (Wi) 46.06; 6. ***Ervin Pearson (Ga) 46.20; 7. Johnny Goode (Cal) 46.39; 8. Jenoah Mckiver (Fl) 46.92.
