The Greatest Collegiate 400 Ever: Michael Norman Runs 43.61 To Defeat Akeem Bloomfield’s 43.94
by LetsRun.com
June 8, 2018
EUGENE, Ore. — There has never been a better NCAA 400m race than this one.
Watch it yourself:
4️⃣3️⃣.6️⃣1️⃣ INSANE!!! ??? #ncaaTF pic.twitter.com/CmUxc1t8wv
— NCAA Track & Field (@NCAATrackField) June 9, 2018
Indoor world record holder Michael Norman of USC remained undefeated at 400 in 2018 by winning the title in an NCAA record of 43.61 to defeat Akeem Bloomfield of Auburn who ran 43.94, becoming only the third collegian ever to go sub-44 in the NCAA season. To top it off Bloomfield’s teammate, Nathon Allen, ran 44.13 for third, a time only three collegians had bettered before today.
Running in the rain at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, Bloomfield hit the homestretch right with Norman and Allen was almost dead-even as well. Norman was best down the final straight but he needed the huge PB (previous best 44.40) to get the win as Bloomfield and Allen, both of Jamaica, bettered Norman’s previous lifetime best.
QT: What a race and run
A tip of the cap goes to all 3 guys, but especially Norman. Norman beat Olympic champ Quincy Watts’ (Watts is Norman’s coach at USC) 44.00 meet record and Olympic champ Michael Johnson’s 43.74 Hayward Field record.
To top it off Norman and Bloomfield are both only 20 years old.
| Place | Athlete | Affiliation | Time | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael NORMAN | SO | USC | 43.61 | PB FR MR CR | ||||||
| 2 | Akeem BLOOMFIELD | SO | Auburn | 43.94 | PB | ||||||
| 3 | Nathon ALLEN | SO | Auburn | 44.13 | PB | ||||||
| 4 | Mar’yea HARRIS | JR | Iowa | 45.00 | |||||||
| 5 | Tyrell RICHARD | JR | South Carolina St. | 45.10 | |||||||
| 6 | Obi IGBOKWE | JR | Arkansas | 45.16 | |||||||
| 7 | Kahmari MONTGOMERY | JR | Houston | 45.75 | |||||||
| 8 | Wil LONDON | JR | Baylor | 46.20 |
Interview with Norman
Interview with Bloomfield