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Photo by: John McGillen/USC Athletics
USC Collegiate Record-Holder Norman Turns Pro
June 12, 2018 | Track & Field, Features
Trojan sophomore will remain in school to earn his USC degree
World and collegiate record-holder Michael Norman has turned pro, but will remain at USC to compete his undergraduate degree, it was announced by USC Director of Track & Field Caryl Smith Gilbert today (June 12). Â
"We are so happy for Michael and proud of the things he has accomplished while competing for USC," said Smith Gilbert. "He is a very special person both on the track and off, and we wish him the best as he moves on to pursue his dreams. He will always be part of the Trojan Family and I look forward to all of the great things he is going to accomplish in the future."
"I am proud to be part of the HSI (Agency) team. I'm looking forward to working with a group of amazing people," said Norman. "But I want to thank USC, my coaches, and the support staff for giving me the opportunity to represent the shield and for helping me to this point in my track career."
Norman, a sophomore from Murrieta, Calif., won the NCAA title in the 400m dash and as part of USC's winning 4x400m relay, with both setting collegiate records at the just concluded 2018 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Ore. Norman helped lead the Trojans to a fourth-place finish as a team.
Norman stormed around the track to victory in the 400m dash with a collegiate-record time of 43.61, breaking the record of 43.70 set by Fred Kerley last season. Norman's time also broke the NCAA finals record of 44.00 set by his coach Quincy Watts in 1992. He also bettered the Hayward Field record of 43.74 set by Michael Johnson in 1993. Norman's time is also the current world leader and he becomes the seventh best performer ever and the fastest American since Jeremy Wariner ran 43.45 in 2007.
Norman and his teammates Ricky Morgan Jr., Rai Benjamin and Zach Shinnick closed out the men's championships by winning the 4x400m relay with a collegiate, NCAA meet, Hayward Field and school record time of 2:59.00. The previous NCAA record and NCAA championship record was 2:59.59 set by LSU in 2005. USC's previous school record in the men's 4x400m relay was 3:00.58 set in 1992.
At the 2018 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships on March 10 in College Station, Texas, Norman won the 400m dash with a USC, collegiate, USA and World record-time of 44.52. He broke the previous world record of 44.57 set by Kerron Clement of USA in 2005. Then the 4x400m relay of Zach Shinnick, Rai Benjamin, Ricky Morgan Jr. and Norman shattered the world, collegiate and USC record with a winning time of 3:00.77.
Norman is on the watch list for The Bowerman awarded annually at the end of the track and field season to the most outstanding track and field athlete.
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"We are so happy for Michael and proud of the things he has accomplished while competing for USC," said Smith Gilbert. "He is a very special person both on the track and off, and we wish him the best as he moves on to pursue his dreams. He will always be part of the Trojan Family and I look forward to all of the great things he is going to accomplish in the future."
"I am proud to be part of the HSI (Agency) team. I'm looking forward to working with a group of amazing people," said Norman. "But I want to thank USC, my coaches, and the support staff for giving me the opportunity to represent the shield and for helping me to this point in my track career."
Norman, a sophomore from Murrieta, Calif., won the NCAA title in the 400m dash and as part of USC's winning 4x400m relay, with both setting collegiate records at the just concluded 2018 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Ore. Norman helped lead the Trojans to a fourth-place finish as a team.
Norman stormed around the track to victory in the 400m dash with a collegiate-record time of 43.61, breaking the record of 43.70 set by Fred Kerley last season. Norman's time also broke the NCAA finals record of 44.00 set by his coach Quincy Watts in 1992. He also bettered the Hayward Field record of 43.74 set by Michael Johnson in 1993. Norman's time is also the current world leader and he becomes the seventh best performer ever and the fastest American since Jeremy Wariner ran 43.45 in 2007.
Norman and his teammates Ricky Morgan Jr., Rai Benjamin and Zach Shinnick closed out the men's championships by winning the 4x400m relay with a collegiate, NCAA meet, Hayward Field and school record time of 2:59.00. The previous NCAA record and NCAA championship record was 2:59.59 set by LSU in 2005. USC's previous school record in the men's 4x400m relay was 3:00.58 set in 1992.
At the 2018 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships on March 10 in College Station, Texas, Norman won the 400m dash with a USC, collegiate, USA and World record-time of 44.52. He broke the previous world record of 44.57 set by Kerron Clement of USA in 2005. Then the 4x400m relay of Zach Shinnick, Rai Benjamin, Ricky Morgan Jr. and Norman shattered the world, collegiate and USC record with a winning time of 3:00.77.
Norman is on the watch list for The Bowerman awarded annually at the end of the track and field season to the most outstanding track and field athlete.
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