In one of the most thrilling collegiate races of the last decade, Donavan Brazier broke Jim Ryun's 50-year-old collegiate and American junior records in the NCAA 800 meter final. Before Brazier's 1:43.55, Ryun was the only American junior to run under 1:45.



Mississippi State's Brandon McBride led most of the race, and while he wasn't able to reclaim his 2014 outdoor 800m title, his 1:44.50 makes him the No. 3 collegiate in-season performer ever. 

Ryun and Brazier were both freshmen when they set their collegiate records. McBride, of Canada, was a senior, and he signed with adidas over the summer. McBride made the Olympics and advanced to the semifinals in Rio. McBride joined Brazier in the 1:43 club when he ran 1:43.95 at the London Diamond League. 



The new collegiate record was the first men's outdoor CR since 2011 and made Brazier the No. 9 American performer ever and the No. 10 performer in the world this year.

Brazier elected to turn pro after NCAAs, and skipped U.S. Juniors to enter the Olympic Trials--where he was shockingly eliminated in the first round. We reported in the process that Brazier could command a five-year, $2.2 million contract. After a tumultuous summer where he briefly moved to Johnny Gray's group in Orlando, Brazier has returned to Texas A&M and is back with his college coaches.