Jonathan Simms Fires Warning Shot at Ogazi in NCAA 400m Battle with 44.76 Outdoor Opener

Georgia freshman Jonathan Simms has reignited the rivalry in the men’s 400m, clocking a blistering 44.76 seconds to take the NCAA outdoor lead at the Battle on the Bayou meet on Saturday.

Simms made headlines indoors when he sped to 44.62 seconds at the Clemson Invitational in January, positioning himself as a favorite heading into the NCAA Indoor Championships.

But he ultimately fell short against Nigeria’s Samuel Ogazi, the 19-year-old University of Alabama star who broke 45 seconds three times indoors before setting a new African record of 44.57 seconds en route to the NCAA indoor title.

Ogazi, the defending NCAA outdoor champion, is competing only in the 4x400m relay in Louisiana this weekend. Yet Simms’ performance has thrown down another gauntlet, setting up a tantalizing showdown ahead of the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Ogazi will be aiming to become the first Nigerian to successfully defend an NCAA 400m title, while Simms has made it clear with his blistering performance he intends to challenge that dominance.

The stage is set for one of the most compelling head-to-head battles of the collegiate track season with the Nigerian having a 3-0 start.