Former USC stars, training partners and first-year pros run top two 400-meter times in the world this year, with Norman equaling No. 4 all-time; Jewett edges White in exciting 800 showdown

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Perhaps the most amazing part of Michael Norman’s growing legacy at the Mt. SAC Relays, which, after Saturday, includes victories as a high school, college and professional athlete, is that the 21-year old has still yet to run an individual race at the event host’s Hilmer Lodge Stadium.

Should Norman return to compete in 2020 at the new facility following completion of the multi-year construction project, it would be a fitting showcase for a stadium that has the motto inscribed in its walls, “Where the world’s best athletes compete.”

Norman became the best 400-meter runner in meet history at El Camino College’s Murdock Stadium in Torrance, Calif., opening his outdoor season by clocking a world-leading 43.45 seconds, eclipsing the 1992 record of 44.45 by Steve Lewis.

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Norman’s performance was the fastest by any athlete since South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk broke the world record at the 2016 Rio Olympics by running 43.03. It was the fastest by any American athlete since 2007 and the No. 2 mark ever run on U.S. soil, trailing only the 43.44 run by Michael Johnson at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

Norman equaled Jeremy Wariner as the No. 3 all-time American performer and elevated into a tie for No. 4 in the world. Only van Niekerk, Johnson and Butch Reynolds remain in front of him, as Norman passed USC assistant coach Quincy Watts (43.50) to move into the top five in history.

Norman won last year’s meet in 44.53, representing USC, and produced a 100-meter victory in 10.27 seconds in 2016 as a senior at Vista Murrieta High when the meet was held at Cerritos College. His only previous meet appearance at the old Hilmer Lodge Stadium was in 2013, competing on relays as a high school freshman.

Norman had company through 250 meters Saturday, as fellow first-year Nike professional and training partner Rai Benjamin finished second in 44.31, the No. 2 time in the world and also under Lewis’ meet record.

Benjamin moved into the top 50 in 400 history, of which 27 are Americans. But the speed he demonstrated will be significant in his pursuit to break Kevin Young’s 400-meter hurdles world record of 46.78 seconds, which has stood since 1992.

Benjamin equaled Edwin Moses for No. 2 in American history and third all-time at last year’s NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships by clocking 47.02.

Abderrahman Samba of Qatar, the host nation for this year’s IAAF World Outdoor Championships in September and October, opened his outdoor season April 9 by running a personal-best 44.60 in the 400 meters. Samba ranks No. 2 in history in the 400 hurdles at 46.98.

Benjamin is scheduled to run his first 400 hurdles race of the season May 18 in Shanghai, China. Norman is expected to run the following day at the Seiko Golden Grand Prix in Osaka, Japan.

They are both scheduled to compete May 30 at a Diamond League meet in Stockholm, Sweden, along with June 30 at the Prefontaine Classic at Stanford’s Cobb Track and Angell Field.

Although Norman and Benjamin provided the biggest highlights Saturday, there were several significant performances, including USC winning the 4x400 relay for the first time since 2011, despite losing three of last year’s record-setting quartet, along with Ricky Morgan Jr., to the professional ranks.

Zach Shinnick, the remaining member of the USC lineup, teamed with Eric Allen Jr., Isaiah Jewett and Cameron Samuel to prevail in 3:03.54, the No. 7 collegiate mark this season.

Jewett also produced the No. 2 collegiate performance this season in the 800 by running a personal-best 1:46.11 to hold off Georgetown’s Joseph White in 1:46.31, the third-fastest time in the country.

Samuel also ran the fastest 400 hurdles of the meet, winning his section in 49.79, with Houston’s Amere Lattin securing victory in his section in 49.98.

Brazilian athletes also had an impressive day on the track, with Paulo Andre Camilo doubling in the 100 and 200. Camilo ran 10.21 into a strong headwind in the 100 and clocked 20.30 in the 200 to defeat 2016 champion Ameer Webb (20.64).

Camilo also contributed to a 4x100 victory in 38.76, defeating Houston (39.17). The Cougars had run 38.45 on March 30 at the 92nd Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays.

Florida State’s Trey Cunningham won the 110-meter hurdles in 13.47, just off his No. 4 collegiate performance of 13.43 from March 22.

Sanjae Lawrence added another victory for the Seminoles, winning the shot put with a sixth-round effort of 62-2.25 (18.95m).

Air Force’s Logan Feasline also won the discus throw with a sixth-round mark of 182-6 (55.62m).

Texas’ Steffin McCarter prevailed in the long jump over former NCAA champion Will Williams with a fifth-round leap of 25-10 (7.87m).

Django Lovett triumphed over fellow Canadians Mike Mason and Derek Drouin, along with a talented group of collegiate athletes, to win the high jump with a 7-6.50 (2.30m) clearance on his first attempt.

American Cole Walsh won the pole vault by clearing 18-0.50 (5.50m) on his first attempt.