The girls 400m Dash lived up to the pre-race hype with a Athing Mu (NJ), Kayla Davis rematch plus US No. 1 Jan'Taijah Ford and US No. 4 Aaliyah Butler highlighting the top section.
Mu and Davis raced indoors over 400 meters at the VA Showcase where Mu would win in 52.55 with Davis in 53.30 ahead of Kimberly Harris, also in yesterdays fast heat, just behind in 53.58.
Mu was entered in both the 400m and 800m, and it was unknown til earlier on Sunday which she would decide to run. It indeed was the 400m.
As the gun went off, Mu was shot out of a cannon in lane 5 to right right of Davis. It's typical to see Davis make up the stagger of the outside lanes by the time she gets to the 100m mark in most races. Despite the fast pace from Mu, Davis ran her own race not getting flustered.
Mu would hold a slight lead through the 200m mark, but Davis still remained patient knowing she was at a comfortable pace. The two had seemed to have already broken the field with no one closing in on the stagger.
Mu would hold a slight advantage through the 300m mark, but you saw Davis holding strong in her form and she turned things up to another gear. Davis would power past Mu at around the 80m mark and continue through the line in 51.17! The crowd was in shock as her official time showed up on the screen.
Davis' mark would improve her North Carolina State Record and her Freshman National Record and was good for a new New Balance Nationals Meet Record, US No. 1 mark as well as US No. 7 All-Time!
Mu would finish 2nd in an impressive 51.98 and Ford in 3rd at 52.46.
Davis has already accomplished so much in her running career, but this was her first New Balance National title after taking 3rd indoors in the 400m (53.72) and 4th in the 200m (24.20).
Davis was also crowned Most Outstanding Female Athlete from the meet for her Meet Record and US No. 7 All-Time performance.
Davis will run at the USATF U20 National Championships next week in the 400m. She's only 15 years old, but will be the favorite to make a Pan Am team. Her mark would have placed her 6th at last weeks NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships.
Related Links:
