All three current and former Alabama track and field standouts made history in the men’s 400-meter semifinal at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Tuesday. They advanced to the Final after qualifying in their respective heats.
Wednesday’s Final will feature only eight of the world’s fastest 400-meter runners, with the Crimson Tide comprising almost half of this elite pool.
Jereem Richards from Trinidad and Tobago, who was part of the Crimson Tide track and field team in 2016-17, progressed to the Final by finishing second in the first heat with a time of 44.33 seconds.
In the Tokyo Olympics, Richards, who is 30 years old, reached the 200-meter Final, but unfortunately, he finished in eighth place. In the past, he has achieved great success by winning the 400-meter in the 2022 Belgrade World Indoor Championships. Moreover, he was a reserve member of the Trinidad and Tobago 4×400-meter relay team during the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Kirani James, who formerly belonged to the Crimson Tide track and field team in 2010 and 2011, progressed to the Final by finishing first in the second heat, clocking a time of 43.78. This was the best time among all the heats.
At 31 years old, James is a seasoned veteran of the Olympic Games. He made history as Grenada’s first-ever Olympic medalist, earning a bronze medal in Tokyo 2020. Prior to that, he won a silver medal in Rio de Janiero in 2016 and a gold medal in London in 2012, all in the 400 meters event. James’ impressive track record speaks for itself and cements his status as a top athlete in his field.
Samuel Ogazi, a Nigerian athlete and freshman at Alabama, made history by becoming the first man from his country to reach the Olympic 400-meter Final since 1988. Despite qualifying for the last spot in the third heat, he finished third in the race with a personal-best time of 44.41 seconds.
At just 18 years old, Ogazi is already making his mark on the Olympic stage. Despite this being his first Olympics, he has already achieved impressive victories in the 400-meter event, winning both the 2023 Ndola African U18 Championships and the 2023 Port of Spain Commonwealth Youth Games.
The final for the men’s 400-meter race is scheduled for Wednesday at 2:20 p.m. CT.