2015 NCAA Men's 400m Preview
2015 NCAA Men's 400m Preview
Deon Lendore, Texas A&M (PB 44.36)
Last Year: 1st Indoors, 1st Outdoors
The Olympian and three-time NCAA Champion returns to do more damage on the track in 2015. After earning an NCAA title in the indoor 400m, outdoor 400m and 4x400m relay, Lendore leads the 400m contenders with the fastest returning mark. His anchor leg on the 4x400m relay helped lead the Texas A&M Aggies to an NCAA Championship record with a time of 2:59.60. After winning the Bowerman Award for his efforts, Lendore is poised to repeat in Fayetteville.
Vernon Norwood, LSU (PB 45.02)
Last Year: 2nd Indoors, 3rd Outdoors
Norwood returns after a stellar opening season with LSU that saw the Tiger claim an NCAA title by anchoring the 4x400m relay at the NCAA Indoor Championships. He also claimed a runner-up finish in the open 400m at the meet and continued on to place third in the event at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Arman Hall, Florida (PB 44.82)
Last Year: 3rd Indoors, 17th Outdoors
The accomplished Florida Gator will attack the track in 2015 after contributing to an NCAA title-winning performance in the 4x100m relay and a runner-up finish in the 4x400m relay at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The 2013 World Champion in the 4x400m earned a third-place finish in the 400m at the NCAA Indoor Championships as well as a fourth-place finish in the 200m.
Christopher Giesting, Notre Dame (PB 45.53)
Last Year: 5th Indoors, 7th Outdoors
Giesting returns for his senior season to build upon his stellar 2014 campaign that saw four All American honors. At the 2014 Indoor Championships, Giesting earned a fifth-place individual finish in the open 400m and assisted Notre Dame to an eighth-place finish in the 4x400m relay. He continued in the NCAA Outdoor Championships with a seventh-place finish in the 400m and a ninth-place finish on the 4x400m relay.
Hugh Graham, Jr., Florida (PB 45.19)
Last Year: 13th Indoors, 8th Outdoors
Another Florida Gator that shouldn’t be counted out is Graham Jr. A member of the NCAA title-winning 4x100m relay that swept the field at the outdoor championships, Graham also recorded an eighth-place finish in the 400m and a runner-up finish in the 4x400m relay for the Gators.
Najee Glass, Florida (PB 45.40)
Last Year: 15th Indoors, 5th Outdoors
The Florida Gator joins teammates Graham Jr. and Hall as one of the top contenders in the field of the men’s 400m after finishing fifth in the 400m and second in the 4x400m relay at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The junior was also a member of the 2013 NCAA championship 4x400m relay squad.
Zack Bilderback, Texas (PB 45.66)
Last Year: 8th Indoors, 12th Outdoors
The Longhorn secured his first All American honor at last year’s NCAA Indoor Championships with an eighth-place finish in the 400m. His personal bests of 20.76 in the 200m and 45.66 in the 400m were both run during the 2014 season and set him up well for a solid 2015.