WITH THE EXCEPTION of the two “pillars” of the American 400m roster — Vernon Norwood and Bryce Deadmon, with a combined 10 major championship relay golds between them — this competition provided a new look at the event.
Missing were Olympic champion Quincy Hall, reportedly nursing an injury, and perennial high-placer Michael Norman, taking the year (and perhaps more) off.
Most surprising was the absence of 17-year-old Quincy Wilson, who recently set a World U18 best of 44.10. Wilson, drawn in lane 8 in his heat, watched Florida senior Jenoah Mckiver in lane 9 amass a huge lead. Atypically for Wilson, he had no response and was eliminated.
Deadmon won the first and fastest heat in 44.34, after a blazing 20.73 first 200. Demarius Smith notched a PR 44.45 in 2nd, ahead of list-leader Khaleb McRae.
Norwood took the second heat in 44.78, leading the aforementioned Mckiver, former NCAA 800 winner Will Sumner and Wilson across the line. Jacory Patterson ran a very relaxed 44.63 in heat 3, followed by Olympic 6th placer (and relay gold medalist) Chris Bailey.
Bailey drew lane 9 for the final, with McRae in 2, and Patterson, Deadmon and Norwood in 5-6-7.
Patterson disclosed his plot from the gun, leading everyone out of the curve with an 11.05 initial 100. He did not let up into the backstretch wind, passing 200 in 21.32 with only Deadmon (21.51) and McRae (21.67) nearby.
At 300 (32.38), Patterson, a former Florida Gator, was 0.4 ahead of McRae and Mckiver. Bailey sped a 10.90 around the bend to move into 4th.
Throughout the final 100, Patterson held his form, and crossed the line in 44.16 for his first title. Behind him, a straight line of Bailey-McRae-Norwood battled the last 80m with little between them. They finished in that order, with only 0.04 separating 2nd from 4th.
Mckiver, Deadmon and Smith paid the toll for their fast heats, as all faded well out of contention when the top 4 opened a substantial gap.
“This feels like a dream. I’m waiting for somebody to pinch me,” said the 25-year-old champion, who had previously won bronze in the 400 and gold in the 4×4 at this year’s World Indoor. “I knew I had to run my own race, but being able to see the others, I just tried to hit my marks. On the curve, I just said, ‘Bump it,’ and I wasn’t going to let anyone take it…
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