Clayton’s Alexander Osayemi advanced to the 400-meter dash final at the U.S. Under-20 Championships Thursday at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
Osayemi ran 46.19 and placed 2nd in the first of three semifinals. The top two in each race and the next three-fastest advance to the finals.
Osayemi raced in the same heat as Olympic gold medalist Quincy Wilson of the Bullis School in Potomac, Md. Wilson won the heat in 45.28 and Osayemi ran 46.19 to automatically advance. Wilson is the world Under 20 record holder indoors and outdoors at 400 meters with 45.37 indoors and 44.10 outdoors.
Osayemi’s 46.19 wound up 4th-fastest of the 25 quarter-milers who qualified.
Osayemi has a PR of 45.59 from the prelims of the SEC Championships last month in Auburn, Ala.
The 400 final is scheduled for 3:43 p.m. Friday. Osayemi qualified for the 400-meter hurdles but scratched to focus on the flat 400. The top two finishers Friday will represent the U.S. at the World Under-20 Championships in Eugene in August.
A strong finish for Osayemi Friday will also put him in the mix for the U.S. 1,600-meter relay pool.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 