MileSplit All-American Watch List: Boys 400m
Michael Norman is undefeated in 2015 and hopes to avenge last year's runner-up finishes in the 200m and 400m with a sweep at the California state meet this weekend.
Boys 400m
1. Michael Norman (Vista Murrieta, CA - Jr.) - The junior is undefeated in California this year in both the 200m and 400m dashes, even coming out of the ultra-competitive Southern Section. Norman has blazed two quarter miles under 46 seconds this year, including a U.S. No. 2 45.91 to win the Arcadia Invitational ahead of Rai Benjamin. He was runner-up at the state meet in both the 200m and 400m last year and will go for his first California state titles this weekend.
2. Rai Benjamin (Mount Vernon, NY - Sr.) - The dual citizen of the United States and Antigua and Barbuda has flown to fast times this season - literally. Benjamin clocked his U.S. No. 5 46.19 en route to a runner-up finish at the CARIFTA Games in St. Kitts and Nevis and has finished runner-up only to Norman while stateside. Benjamin, the New Balance Nationals Indoor champion, also ranks U.S. No. 1 in the 400m hurdles with his New York State Record of 50.45.
3. Josephus Lyles (T.C. Williams, VA - Jr.) - The defending New Balance Nationals Outdoor champion has raced sparingly this outdoor season as he likely prepares for a long summer season. Lyles, who owns a personal best of 46.23 and ran on Team USA's winning 4x400m relay team at IAAF World Juniors last summer, ran his best so far at The Penn Relays as he and brother Noah clocked sub-46 splits to lead the Titans to a fourth-place finish in the Championship of America 4x400m in U.S. No. 2 3:12.17. Noah does not race the open 400m.
4. Keshun Reed (Arlington Martin, TX - Jr.) - The undefeated junior smoked a huge personal best at the Texas state meet to win in 45.75, the fastest time in the country this year. He is the defending AAU Junior Olympic champion and has run under 47 seconds four times.
5. Jamal Walton (Miami Gardens Xpress TC, FL - So.) - The sophomore did not compete for his high school this year for eligibility issues, but he would likely be a multiple-time state champion if allowed. Walton represented the Cayman Islands at the Carifta Games and won the competitive Golden South Classic; he ranks U.S. No. 4 in 46.16 this year.
6. Kahmari Montgomery (Plainfield Central, IL - Sr.) - The Missouri-bound senior is the first athlete in Illinois state history to win the sprint triple crown (100m/200m/400m) at the state meet. Montgomery is undefeated in 2015 and ran his personal best of 46.24 to rank U.S. No. 7.
7. Eric Age (Lancaster, TX - Sr.) - Since placing fifth at the Texas 5A State Championship last year, Age has not lost a single quarter mile race. The senior went undefeated through the post-season to capture his first state title; he clocked a personal best of 46.42 to rank U.S. No. 8 this year.
8. Wilbert London (Waco, TX - Sr.) - A disappointing runner-up finish at the Texas 5A State Championship yielded extra motivation for the graduating senior, who will run for Baylor next year. London ran 45.96 to win the Texas Meet of Champions, a time that ranks U.S. No. 3 this year.
9. Obi Igbokwe (The Woodlands, TX - Sr.) - The senior broke out this season as a consistent low-46 second performer in the quarter mile. He placed second only to Reed at the Texas 6A State Championship in his only non-victory of the year. He ranks U.S. No. 6 with his personal best 46.22. Igbokwe was also invited to the prestigious Prefontaine Classic 200m, where he took third on one of track and field's biggest stages.
10. Ari Cogdell (American, FL - Sr.) - The University of Tennessee-bound senior is undefeated in his signature event in 2015, clocking a personal best 46.60 to rank U.S. No. 10 and winning his first individual Class 4A state title. He also led his American 4x400m to the tops of the national leaderboard at various points in the season, recording a win at the Pepsi Florida Relays and a third-place finish at the Texas Relays. They finished the season ranked U.S. No. 5 with a best of 3:12.86.