SEC Trio Blazes Trail At Hayward Field: Samuel Ogazi Runs Historic 43.38 In 400; Jaiden Reid Runs NCAA Record 19.63 In 200; Kanyinsola Ajayi Takes 100 In 9.72w

By Lori Shontz For DyeStat

Tim Healy and Keith Webber Photos

RESULTS | INTERVIEWS

EUGENE -- Samuel Ogazi was not surprised.

Not with winning his second consecutive NCAA 400-meter outdoor title. Not with breaking Michael Norman’s NCAA record, which had stood for eight years. Not even with his time of 43.38, the fastest time in the world this year and the fourth-fastest 400-meter performance of all time.

“I was running 43.8 at regionals, and it was the easiest race this year,” said Ogazi, an Alabama junior who competes internationally for Nigeria. “So it wasn’t a surprise.”

It was, however, moving for Ogazi, who said he grew up idolizing Michael Johnson, Kirani James and Quincy Hall, to consider his name next to those who’ve run the race faster than he has: Wayde van Niekerk, Johnson, Butch Reynolds.

“Words can’t express how I feel right now,” he said.

Ogazi’s sparkling performance was the highlight of an exceptionally fast sprint competition Friday at Hayward Field. And it came just two days after Ja'Kobe Tharp's stunning world record in the 110-meter hurdles. It was also the meet's second Hayward Field record. 

LSU junior Jaiden Reid won the 200 in 19.63 seconds, the fastest time in the world this season and another NCAA record. Walter Dix had held the record of 19.67 since 2007.

Reid said that when he saw the time, “I thought I was going to see a +3 breeze.” But the wind was a legal +1.7, and Reid had handily beaten Auburn’s Israel Okon, who ran 19.99 for silver.

And he managed that time after running a leg on LSU’s the 4x100 relay, which finished second, and a second-place finish in the 100 meters, which he ran in a season-best 9.82.

At the NCAA indoor championships, Reid failed to make the final in the 60 or in the 200, and he said he and his coaches had adjusted his preparation to put him in better position in outdoors.

“I really told myself to just do what I did to get here,” said Reid, who competes internationally for the Cayman Islands.

The 100-meter victory went to another Nigerian, Auburn’s Kanyinsola Ajayi, who ran 9.72 seconds, with a wind at +2.2. He already had the fastest 100-meter time in the world this season, 9.84 from the NCAA East Regional, and now he’s got the fastest all-conditions time this season.