---
title: "Jayden DeLeon wins men's 400m title at Hayward Field; championship record 44.47s"
sdDatePublished: "2026-08-08T08:13:00Z"
source: "https://www.olympics.com/en/news/world-athletics-u20-championships-2026-jayden-deleon-wins-men-400m-final"
topics:
  - name: "sport"
    identifier: "medtop:15000000"
locations:
  - "Maryland"
  - "Oregon"
  - "South Africa"
  - "United States"
---


Jayden DeLeon wins men's 400m title at Hayward Field; championship record 44.47s

World Athletics U20 Championships 2026: Jayden DeLeon claims emphatic men's 400m title, Olympic medallist Quincy Wilson second

World Athletics U20 Championships 2026: Jayden DeLeon edges out Olympic medallist Quincy Wilson to claim 400m title on home soil

DeLeon headlined a Maryland one, two in the men's 400m final at Hayward Field, clocking 44.47 seconds to beat Olympian Wilson on Friday, 7 August.

Last second passes, teammates going head-to-head and one man trying to flip the script, the men's 400m final had it all at the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships on Friday (7 August).

Billed as a showdown between United States' relay teammates Jayden DeLeon and Olympic medallist Quincy Wilson , the race unfolded as a dramatic display of moves and countermoves.

South Africa's Leendert Koekemoer led coming off the final bend, but was overhauled the by the home stars in the closing metres, with DeLeon getting the better of Wilson in a championship record of 44.47 seconds.

"I saw him creep up on me at 300m. I knew he had a strong third 100m. I studied film, I watched and waited. When he came [hard], I came again," DeLeon told the media, breaking down his winning move.

"It means the world to me," he added of the medal hung around his neck. "My training has been perfect, so it all came down to me and getting this dub (win)."

While Wilson pushed hard to try and win his first major title since winning gold as part of Team USA's men's 4x400m squad at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 , he came up short in a season's best of 44.62.

"The race was a great experience," he told reporters. "I'm going to get back in the lab and get ready for tomorrow (men's 4x400m). I'm happy. My next step is to go back to college and go to work."

South African sensation Koekemoer could also use some time in the lab, after a quick third quarter of the race saw him fade in the final 50 metres, eventually crossing the finish line third in 44.96.

"It was amazing, final was good, competition was exactly what I expected it to be," he said of the race. "At the end of the day, I would've wanted the gold, but it is what it is. It's my first world stage medal in my individual sport. I'm very proud of myself."

It's a race that's likely to be replayed in the years to come, as DeLeon and Wilson attempt to qualify for the Olympic Games LA 2028 , with one eye on winning gold and other likely starring directly at each other.

World Athletics U20 Championships 2026: Quincy Wilson, Tate Taylor, Shanoya Douglas lead stars in action, how to watch live

World Athletics U20 Championships 2026: Full schedule, results

Picture by USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Athletics | U20 World Championships | Oregon | United States of America