Aug. 8, 2017
AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn track and field rising sophomore Nathon Allen finished fifth in the 400 meter at the IAAF World Championships, running a 44.88 on Tuesday in the 400m final in London.
Allen, representing Team Jamaica, was one of only two current NCAA athletes to run in the 400m final alongside defending NCAA Champion Fred Kerley of Texas A&M.
"I'm extremely proud of Nathon," Auburn track and field head coach Ralph Spry said. "He represented us proudly as an Auburn Tiger. It was a phenomenal season for Nathon. To see a young guy like that be able to compete at that level on the biggest stage is just incredible. It's not something that happens every day."
A Spanish Town, Jamaica, native, Allen got his week in London started by winning his heat in the 400m with a time of 44.92. One day later, he broke the Auburn record with a blistering 44.19 in the semifinals, surpassing the old record of 44.45 set by Avard Moncur in 2001. Allen now holds three of the top four times in the 400m in school history.
"Nathon had a tremendous season in how he progressed as a freshman in college," Spry said. "The experience he gained this year in the SEC, at the National Championships, now at the World Championships and, of course, being at the Olympic Games before he got here, he's just being really battle tested. It will really pay off for him as he continues to mature. It was an incredible season and I'm really proud of him. I'm excited to watch him run and really look forward to watching him in his sophomore year, because after this year he has a lot to build on."
Allen, who earned First Team All-American honors in both the 400m and 4x400m relay at the 2017 NCAA Track and Field Championships, will also compete in the 4x400m relay for Jamaica beginning on Saturday. The 4x400m relay final will be raced on Sunday, the last day of competition.