Olympic Trials Women’s 400 — Ellis Steps Up Just In Time

SOME RUED THAT the 400 had no strong favorite with world leader Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone choosing the hurdles. Yet what the event lacked in predictability it more than made up for in drama. Consider the cast members:

Lane 1: Quanera Hayes, the oldest in the field at 32 and the defending champion.

Lane 2: JaMeesia Ford, the youngest, who set the American Junior 200 record with her NCAA runner-up finish for South Carolina.

Lane 3: Alexis Holmes, who didn’t make the USATF final last year, but in Budapest anchored a World Record in the mixed relay. She made the final on a time qualifier.

Lane 4: Shamier Little, the 2-time World 400H silver medalist, ran the fastest in the heats with her 50.13, saying, “I did not want to be bored, sitting on my hands waiting for the 400H.” She said she would skip the rest, then she showed up for the semis and clocked 50.16. “Some things were reconsidered.”

Lane 5: Aaliyah Butler, the Georgia soph who ran 49.79 at SECs but didn’t make the NCAA final. She ran 50.01 to qualify here.

Lane 6: Lynna Irby-Jackson, whose only trip under 50 was her 49.80 to win the ’18 NCAA.

Lane 7: Kaylyn Brown, the Arkansas frosh who never won a state title in North Carolina. She improved by more than 4 seconds this season and finished 2nd at NCAAs in 49.13. She led the semis at 49.71.

Lane 8: Kendall Ellis, who has won World and Olympic golds on the relay, but struggled individually. She broke her PR of 49.99 from 6 years ago by running 49.81 in her semi, after being locked in a porta-potty for 10 minutes, pounding on the door to be rescued, just an hour before race time.

Lane 9: Bella Whittaker, the fast-improving Penn senior who ran 50.17 for an NCAA 5th.

At the gun, Irby-Jackson and Brown got out best, but Brown drove hard down the backstretch and led at 200 in 23.54, with Little and Butler close behind. Ellis was far back in 6th. Butler charged into the turn, caught Brown and led at 300 (36.15) with both Little and Brown still ahead of Ellis.

Coming off the turn, Ellis fought her way past Brown as Little began to implode. With 40 left, she caught Butler and she sliced her best to 49.46 to take the win and move to No. 9 on the all-time U.S. list.. Butler (49.71) and a fast-finishing Holmes (49.78) also made the team. Brown finished 4th in 50.07 as Little faded to last in 50.96.

“I’m…