Oh So Close

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (3/10/23)---Hayden Gagnon's 2-week, season-ending rise in the 400 meters continued at the NCAA Division III National Indoor Meet.

Gagnon ran a career-best 48.24 in the third heat of the prelims of the 400 meters at the national meet, and missed qualifying for the finals – and earning All-American honors – by a mere .05 of a second.

Gagnon's rise to Top 10 in the nation in the 400 meters came after he finished fifth at the MIAC Championship Meet in a time of 49.86. Gagnon then went to the Wartburg Qualifier meet and found another gear as he qualified for nationals with a time of 48.98.

At the NCAA Meet, Gagnon – two weeks removed from being No.5 in the MIAC – was the top finisher of any athlete from the conference. His time of 48.24 was .05 of a second faster than the athlete that won the 400 meters at the conference meet.   

NCAA Indoor Meet 400 Meter Final Results
1. Cheickna Traore – Ramapo – 46.85
2. Amara Conte – Rowan – 47.45
3. Basheer Alramahi – John Carroll – 47.79
4. Samuel Knowles – Widener – 47.80
5. Tyrell Pierce – Knox – 47.87
6. Jared Storm – Mount Union – 47.93
7. Matt Kruse – Loras – 48.05
8. Matt McBride – Mount Union – 48.17
9. Hayden Gagnon – Concordia – 48.24
10. Jacob Parent – Bethel – 48.29
11. Dave Etienne – New Jersey City – 48.44
12. Kieran Sheridan – SUNY Geneseo – 48.48
13. Luke Botsford – Tufts – 48.52
14. Josh Jeffes – SUNY Delhi – 48.64
15. Joel Smith – Bethel – 48.69
16. Steven Doss – RIC – 48.71
17. Tyler Gill – Mount Union – 48.94
18. Coltrane Goring – Cortland St. – 48.97
19. Ezekiel Bennett – Wittenberg – 49.00
20. Jordon Brown – Olivet – 49.53