Sawt Falasteen - Norman looks to Worlds after another impressive 400m at trials

Almost two months after winning the 400m at the Eugene Diamond League meeting in a meet record of 43.60, Norman returned to Hayward Field -- venue for next months World Championships -- and ran even faster.

"I'm kind of looking forward to going back to LA and fine-tuning this race and being even more prepared when Worlds comes around," the 24-year-old warned.

Norman insisted that his defeat at the Tokyo Games, where he went in as a gold medal favorite and faded to finish fifth with a time nearly a second outside his career best, was no longer a motivator for him even though it was devastating at the time.

"I'm just not really focusing on the past, more just moving forward and focusing on what I can control this year," he said.

Regrouping has meant going "back to the basics" he said, starting the 2022 season "with a very straightforward, straight-line mindset."

He's had a setback or two, including a back injury that cost him some training time.

But he's still been making steady progress on the track, his time in May shattering Michael Johnson's 22-year-old meet record.

Now he's gone faster, but Norman said the time was immaterial.

"It's just a number," he said. "It doesn't matter until world championships comes around the corner."

That may be so, but it's perhaps no coincidence that he's turned in two outstanding performances at Hayward Field, a beloved athletics venue in the United States which will see America host the outdoor Worlds for the first time.

It's another reason for Norman's rivals to beware.

"I guess I have a pretty good history at Eugene," he said. "I think I'll have a slight advantage."

Z.AlNajjar--SF-PST