Like many sports, track and field is defined by the smallest of margins. And in Gilbert senior Vance Nilsson’s case, it was a mere .06 seconds that separated him from earning a spot in the men’s 400-meter hurdle final at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials.
Nilsson ran 49.77 Friday night in Eugene, Oregon, a personal best, to finish 11th overall in the second heat. Only the top nine made it to the final on Sunday. The 18-year-old came in just behind Nike’s Khallifah Rosser in the second heat, almost chasing down the professional runner at the finish line to advance.
“Bittersweet,” Nilsson The Arizona Republic in a message following his race. “Really wanted to make that final because I knew I could, but at the same time I’m happy with how well I did.”
It was a valiant effort for Nilsson, who drew the praise of NBC broadcasters Leigh Diffey, Ato Boldon and Sanya Richards-Ross for his race. With his time of 49.77, Nilsson — who already owns the national record in the 300-meter hurdles — moves up to No. 4 on the all-time list for the 400-meter hurdles in U.S. high school history.