Track and Field News: After Making a Strong 2024 Debut, American Olympic Star Reveals Next Aim

In Budapest last year, the track and field community had seen a 31-year-old sprinting veteran giving his heart out to win the relay gold in the 4x400m event. Eventually, it was his second relay event that year and it had come off with a lot better timing. That former LSU star has had many achievements in his name. But the love affair with the track and field engagements couldn’t keep him shy from participating in another sprinting event and chasing the accomplishment he wanted to showcase by his name. This Olympic year started as no different. 

So, to keep him in the competition, the track and field duke appeared to try the vivid events he mastered. The 200m came early, giving way to the ultimate 400m event. 

Vernon Norwood waits for the ultimate track and field charm 

On January 27, the Track & Field Gazette disclosed the news of Vernon Norwood’s victory in the men’s 200m open event. At the concluded Razorback Invitational, he took 20.92 seconds to earn fame, far better than the runner-up 2022 NACAC medalist. But that track and field achievement seemed not to satisfy the 4x World Champion sprinter. Giving a possible reason, Norwood soon shared the above-mentioned X post, adding a disclosing comment, “400m @NBIndoorGP next up!”

Eventually, the former LSU Tiger is rooting for the short course title contention that he had missed last year. In the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix last year, Vernon Norwood claimed the third position, with a timing of 45.92, improving from the 2022 timing. However, the clocking had fallen just 0.04 short of Noah Williams’ gold-earning performance. Moreover, last year, in another attempt, the Louisiana-born had attained the same timing. So for him, this year proves to keep much more at stake as the bigger titles are on the way. 

The personal goal in the Olympic season 

If the short course track and field claims to be Vernon Norwood’s next goal, then a bigger one is waiting for him in the long course event. Last year, after claiming missing the bronze medal in the 400m event in Budapest, the 31-year-old athlete decided to stay close to Wayde Van Niekerk as he is the ultimate 400m world record holder. 

Read more: 50 Years After Losing to America, Jamaican Athlete Reigns 400M Event at World Athletics Championship

However, the record stays at 43.03 whereas Vernon’s personal best had come last year at 44.26. So he knows about the hard run he should achieve to topple the 400m world record. On that note, the New Balance indoor would be his best chance to come to the 400m glory again. After that short track meet, the Olympic champion would be on his way to closing the gap with WVN’s achievement. 

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