2017 USATF Outdoor Championships

Fred Kerley, Quanera Hayes Win First U.S. Outdoor 400 Titles

Fred Kerley, Quanera Hayes Win First U.S. Outdoor 400 Titles

The collegiate record-holder and NCAA champion continued the breakthrough season with a national title. Newly turned professional sprinter Fred Kerley unleashed a dominant 44.03-second victory to make his first world championship team in the 400 meters.

Jun 24, 2017 by Taylor Dutch
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Sacramento, Calif. -- The collegiate record-holder and NCAA champion continued the breakthrough season with a national title. Newly turned professional sprinter Fred Kerley unleashed a dominant 44.03-second victory to make his first world championship team in the 400 meters. Kerley's USATF Outdoor Championship performance took place two weeks after he won the NCAA 400m title while competing for Texas A&M.

Gil Roberts followed for second in 44.22 and 19-year-old Wil London of Baylor closed for third in 44.47 to earn the last two spots on Team USA headed to the IAAF World Championships in London. 2008 Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt will also represent the United States in London as he earned a wildcard bye from winning the 2016 Diamond League crown.

In the women's 400m, Quanera Hayes kicked off day three with a stunning victory over the field. Hayes blasted the one-lap race in 49.72-seconds to become the national champion in the event. Her winning time is also a world lead in the sprint. Hayes was followed by Olympian Phyllis Francis and USC All-American Kendall Ellis, who closed in 49.96 and 50.00, respectively, to round out the podium finishes.

Six-time Olympic champion Allyson Felix will also be competing in London as she earned a wildcard bye from winning the 2015 World Championship.