University Southern California Trojans
Photo by: John McGillen
Benjamin & Norman Named To The Bowerman Pre-Championships Watch List
May 03, 2018 | Track & Field, Features
USC's Rai Benjamin and Michael Norman were named to The Bowerman Pre-Conference Championships Watch List, announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) today (May 3). The Bowerman is awarded annually at the end of the track and field season to the most outstanding track and field athlete.
The junior Benjamin, in his first season as a Trojan, opened up his outdoor campaign by taking second to Norman in the 400m at the Mt. SAC Relays on April 21 with a PR of 44.74 which ranks sixth on USC's all-time list in the event and third nationally. He then ran his first 400m hurdles race of the season and posted a winning time of 49.84 at the USC-UCLA Dual Meet on April 29, good for 10th on USC's all-time list and fourth in the country.
Benjamin is coming off an outstanding indoor campaign. He ran a 200m PR of 20.34 to place third at the NCAA Indoor Championships on March 10, which ranks second on USC's all-time indoor list. He also ran the third-fastest indoor 400m race all-time by a Trojan of 45.94. Benjamin also ran the second leg on USC's 4x400m relay which ran the world's fastest time ever of 3:00.77. He was credited with the fastest split time in the world of 44.35.
Norman currently leads the country in the 400m with his PR and winning time of 44.53 at the Mt. SAC Relays on April 21 and ranks third in the country in the 200m with his PR of 20.06 (-1.4) set at the Sun Angel Classic on April 7. With those times, Norman ranks third in the 400m and fourth in the 200m on USC's all-time lists in those events.
Norman was the star at the NCAA Indoor Championships on March 10, as he broke the world record in the 400m and ran the anchor leg of the Trojans' 4×400m relay team that set an all-time world best time. Norman won the 400m with a time of 44.52, breaking the previous world record of 44.57 set by USA's Kerron Clement in 2005. He then split the same time anchoring USC's record-setting relay which ran 3:00.77.
The next men's watch list for The Bowerman will be announced on May 17.
The junior Benjamin, in his first season as a Trojan, opened up his outdoor campaign by taking second to Norman in the 400m at the Mt. SAC Relays on April 21 with a PR of 44.74 which ranks sixth on USC's all-time list in the event and third nationally. He then ran his first 400m hurdles race of the season and posted a winning time of 49.84 at the USC-UCLA Dual Meet on April 29, good for 10th on USC's all-time list and fourth in the country.
Benjamin is coming off an outstanding indoor campaign. He ran a 200m PR of 20.34 to place third at the NCAA Indoor Championships on March 10, which ranks second on USC's all-time indoor list. He also ran the third-fastest indoor 400m race all-time by a Trojan of 45.94. Benjamin also ran the second leg on USC's 4x400m relay which ran the world's fastest time ever of 3:00.77. He was credited with the fastest split time in the world of 44.35.
Norman currently leads the country in the 400m with his PR and winning time of 44.53 at the Mt. SAC Relays on April 21 and ranks third in the country in the 200m with his PR of 20.06 (-1.4) set at the Sun Angel Classic on April 7. With those times, Norman ranks third in the 400m and fourth in the 200m on USC's all-time lists in those events.
Norman was the star at the NCAA Indoor Championships on March 10, as he broke the world record in the 400m and ran the anchor leg of the Trojans' 4×400m relay team that set an all-time world best time. Norman won the 400m with a time of 44.52, breaking the previous world record of 44.57 set by USA's Kerron Clement in 2005. He then split the same time anchoring USC's record-setting relay which ran 3:00.77.
The next men's watch list for The Bowerman will be announced on May 17.
Wednesday, June 17
Sunday, May 17
Thursday, May 14
Saturday, March 28
