3/7-Masheto runs fastest 400m time in country
Updated: March 7, 2009
AMES, Iowa – Illinois men’s track and field senior Gakologelwang Masheto had the best indoor 400m performance of his career on Saturday at Iowa State’s NCAA Qualifier, timing 45.80 to rank first in the world this season and reset his own school record in the event.
Masheto will head into next weekend’s NCAA Indoor Championships ranked first in the country in the 400m. Prior to Saturday’s performance, Masheto was ranked 11th in the NCAA with a season-best time of 46.67. Texas Tech’s Gil Roberts has the second-fastest time in the NCAA in running 46.08, behind Masheto’s time of 45.80. It was a new personal-best for the Botswana native, as he reset his Illinois school record of 46.14 ran as a sophomore in 2007.
The two-time All-American and five-time Big Ten champion also now has the fastest indoor 400m time in the world in 2009, ahead of Italy’s Claudio Licciardello who timed 46.03 in February.
“(Masheto’s) race was incredible,” Illini head coach Wayne Angel said. “He got out ahead early and really controlled the race. He ran the most controlled and relaxed last stretch that I’ve ever seen. The scary thing is that he still had more left in him.”
In Saturday’s race, Masheto was able to get revenge on New Mexico’s Jarrin Solomon who beat him earlier this season. Solomon finished second with a time of 46.33.
Masheto also anchored the Illini 4x400m relay to a season-best performance. The squad of freshman Hendrik Maartens, sophomore Dan Jones, junior Gary Miller and Masheto timed 3:07.70, significantly faster than their previous season-best performance of 3:09.33. Despite the improvement, Illinois finished seventh in the relay in one of the fastest fields in the country. Florida State took first in 3:05.48.
“We’re on the bubble to make the NCAA Championships, ranked 11th or 12th in the country,” Angel said. “We’ll see if we get selected on Monday. Regardless of what happens, I’m very proud of these guys. They ran with heart, pride and guts and are one of the best 4x400m relays in the NCAA.”
Miller also took eighth in the 800m with a time of 1:50.47.
The NCAA Indoor Championships will be held Friday, March 13 and Saturday, March 14, hosted by Texas A&M in College Station, Texas. Expected to make the field along with Masheto when the selections are announced Monday is freshman Andrew Riley (60m hurdles).
