Former USC Star Went 'Back To Basics' In The Offseason And Looks Poised For A Big Season; Faith Kipyegon Runs 3:52.59 In 1,500m; Colin Sahlman Rises No. 3 All-Time With 3:56.24 Mile

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

EUGENE - Michael Norman showed championship-level form on Saturday at the Prefontaine Classic, where he broke the meet record and ran a world-leading time of 43.60 to win the 400 meters.

Norman, running powerfully as he ever has, pulled away from Kirani James down the home straightaway for the win.  

After a fifth-place finish in the Olympics final last summer, Norman returned home and "experienced every emotion" as he tried to figure out how to get better. 

"I went back to the basics," Norman said. "To me, that's hard work, consistency, training. 

"If it feels too comfortable, I'm not woking hard enough."

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Norman's performance was one of the most outstanding on a blustery spring afternoon in Eugene, where a little bit of rain and swirling winds did little to dampen the impact of the meet. 

Berihu Aregawai of Ethiopia pushed himself out ahead of a strong field and broke the meet record in the 5,000 meters with 12:50.05. 

In the Bowerman Mile, Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen did his thing and controlled the race and won in 3:49.76. 

Further back, Newbury Park senior Colin Sahlman hung on to the back of the pack for as long as he could and caught Clayton Murphy to finish second-to-last in 3:56.24. 

That's the third-fastest high school mile of all-time, behind Alan Webb and Jim Ryun. And it took down California's all-time outdoor record held by Tim Danielson since 1966. 

"I found myself dropping off a little bit and I just had to try and pick it back up, but it was hard, for sure," Sahlman said. "I thought I'd have a little more in me in the final lap, but I tried to make the best of it."

Faith Kipyegon of Kenya ran a dominant time of 3:52.59 to win the women's 1,500 meters as seven women dipped under four minutes. 

In the women's 100 meters, Jamaica's Elaine Thompson-Herah sped to a victory in 10.79, another world-leading time. 

Ryan Crouser threw past 23 meters (75-6.25) for the fifth time in his career to win the shot put. Crouser was using a "static throw," rather than his full rotational technique. He said his full throws typically go 40-60 centimeters farther, and indication that there could be another world record brewing. 

In the men's 100 meter, Trayvon Bromell broke from the pack and held off a late charge by Fred Kerley to win in 9.93 seconds. 

Two-time Olympic bronze medalist Andre DeGrasse of Canada was ninth in 10.21. 

Norah Jeruto of Kenya ran a world-leading time of 8:57.97 in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase as top American Emma Coburn was an uncharacteristic eighth.