THIS WAS THE ONLY event showcasing a pair of Olympic gold medalists: Georgia junior Aaliyah Butler and Arkansas soph Kaylyn Brown, members of Team USA’s Paris 4×4 group. Butler, with a new 49.44 PR and undefeated this year, seemed to have the edge over Brown, who placed 2nd in last year’s unprecedented Arkansas sweep, but had progressed more gradually in ’25.
With 9 other entrants producing times better than 51, this promised to be a fast and competitive final. The semis reinforced this notion.
In the first, Butler cruised smoothly to a 50.16, ahead of Arkansas senior Rosey Effiong (50.49). Brown and LSU’s Ella Onojuvwevwo, a Nigerian Olympian, entered the final straight together in the next semi. From there, Tiger junior Onojuvwevwo pulled powerfully away to a 50.31 PR, establishing herself as another title threat.
The third semi was a runaway for Georgia junior Dejanea Oakley, who produced a PR 50.18 ahead of Iowa State’s Rachel Joseph (50.77). A 51.35 was necessary to qualify for the final; two women at 51.40, South Carolina’s Zaya Akins and San Diego State’s Shaquena Foote, were eliminated.
For the final, Butler drew lane 6, with Oakley, Effiong and Brown to her outside, Joseph and Onojuvwevwo to her left in 4 and 5.
From the start, Butler controlled the race. First to 100m, she powered down the back straight, opening a big gap on those in the inside lanes.
She went by Oakley at the 200 stagger, flew around the curve, passed 300 in 35.9 and entered the homestraight with a 2m lead on Effiong, with Oakley in 3rd another meter back,and Brown 4th.
Butler maintained her form and pace down the stretch, and crossed the finish in a PR 49.26, as =No. 9 all-time U.S. performer. Oakley passed Effiong with 75m remaining and actually closed a bit on her teammate, finishing in 49.65, her second PR in three days.
Effiong, with a 7th and two 4ths in previous championships, hung on for 3rd in 50.51, just ahead of a big rush by Onojuvwevwo (50.57). Brown faded to 5th, inches ahead of Joseph.
The 1-2 finish essentially clinched the women’s team title for Georgia.
Butler: “I felt great. Last year I didn’t make it to the final, indoors I got 2nd, so I knew coming out here I really wanted to win. I’ve been working hard and I just put my trust in my coaches because this whole season, it was like,…
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