THE OUTLOOK FOR THIS EVENT changed completely when 19-year-old Florida State frosh footballer Micahi Danzy, the season leader at 44.38, did not appear for his semi heat citing a “minor injury.” That left another 19-year-old, Alabama soph Samuel Ogazi, as the clear favorite, but he was only gradually recovering from injuries.

The ’24 NCAA runner-up and 7th-placer at the Paris Olympics was going to be a tough man to defeat, regardless. Texas A&M senior Auhmad Robinson, author of some impressive relay legs and 4th last year before a DQ, seemed to have the best chance, along with Arizona State soph Jayden Davis.

Nigerian star Ogazi fortified his standing by easily winning the first semi in 44.77, the day’s best time. South Florida senior Gabriel Moronta, USC junior William Jones, and Texas Tech junior DeSean Boyce were the only others to approach 45 seconds even. A 45.44 sufficed to qualify.

Ogazi drew lane 6 for the final, flanked by Joseph Taylor (Duke) and Moronta. Robinson was in 3, Boyce in 4, Jones in 8, and Davis on the outside in 9.

On this rare occasion, the predictable occurred. Lacking any stressful competition or meaningful reason to run all-out this early in a long season, Ogazi conserved his resources on a cool (60 degrees), cloudy day. He reached 200 well ahead at 21.1 and managed a controlled, tempo victory in 44.84, the slowest winning time in a decade.

Behind him, the field strung out, and unlike recent NCAA finals, no one else broke 45. Moronta finished 2nd, Jones 3rd, Jordan Pierre (Arkansas–Pine Bluff) 4th and Boyce 5th. Davis and Robinson were a well-beaten 7th and 8th.

Then, in the meet’s most consequential officiating decision, Moronta was DQed for a lane violation. That moved Jones up to 2nd, added 2 points to USC’s total, and, eventually, led to a tie for the men’s team title for the Trojans.

“I’m so happy,” said Ogazi. “I’m working for this for months because I got injured, I think, in January, and was injured throughout the whole end of the season. I couldn’t do anything for 8 weeks, and then coming back now to get the title is a big achievement for me, and I’m proud.”

Asked about the conditions, he said, “The weather is bad, it’s kind of cold, and I’m not used to running in cold weather, but at the semis, it was so hot. Today, I was trying to do it but it didn’t come, but I have the gold, so that’s all that matters.”

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MEN’S 400 RESULTS

FINAL (June 13)

1. **Samuel Ogazi’ (Al-Ngr) 44.84;

2. *William Jones (USC) 45.53;

3. **Jordan Pierre (ArPB) 45.75;

4. *DeSean Boyce’ (TxT-Bar) 45.78;

5. ***Joseph Taylor (Duke) 45.83;

6. **Jayden Davis (AzSt) 45.91;

7. Auhmad Robinson (TxAM) 46.07;

8. **Gabriel Clement (UCLA) 46.17;

… dq—[2]Gabriel Moronta’ (SFl-DR) [45.47].

SEMIS (June 11)

I–1. Ogazi’ 44.77; 2. Boyce’ 45.15; 3. Robinson 45.35; 4. Pierre 45.44 PR; 5. Hossam Hatib (TxAM) 45.94; 6. *Kelsey Singleton (SnMs) 46.14; 7. Malik Ricketts’ (Pitt-Jam) 46.36;… dnc—***Micahi Danzy (FlSt).

II–1. Moronta’ 45.10; 2. Jones 45.12; 3. Clement 45.35 PR; 4. **Will Floyd’ (Ga-Can) 45.47; 5. Shemar Chambers’ (Ga-Jam) 45.48; 6. Cutler Zamzow (TxAM) 45.65; 7. Anthony East (Hous) 46.07;… dq—***Edidiong Udo (OhSt).

III–1. Taylor 45.34; 2. Davis 45.44; 3. *Nathan Kent (Navy) 45.46; 4. *Shaemar Uter’ (TxT-Jam) 45.62; 5. *Jalen Williams (Wi) 46.06; 6. ***Ervin Pearson (Ga) 46.20; 7. Johnny Goode (Cal) 46.39; 8. Jenoah Mckiver (Fl) 46.92.

PITTSBURGH – Olivia Babcock and Rachel Fairbanks reunite on the VNL (Volleyball Nations League) week 2 roster in Belgrade, Serbia. Matches take place from June 18-22 and will be shown on VBTV, Big Ten Network and/or CBS Sports Network. 

Babcock recently completed her first week of play in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She recorded eight points on seven kills and an ace against Brazil and nine kills in the loss to Czechia. Fairbanks will serve as an alternate in her return to play from injury. 

The VNL brings together the world’s top 18 teams for three action-packed weeks of preliminary play, with each team competing in four matches per week. Only the top eight teams will earn a spot in the Final Round, where a VNL title will be on the line.

Week 2 Schedule: (all times EST)

June 18 at 2 p.m. vs. Serbia

June 19 at 10:30 a.m. vs. Poland

June 21 at 10:30 a.m. vs. Netherlands

June 22 at 10:30 a.m. vs. France

USA Volleyball Release

Zagreb, Croatia – June 16 – The USA Men’s Junior National Team beat Montenegro 16-10 today at the U20 World Championships. William Schneider led the offense with four goals while Charles Mills went for eleven saves in net. Team USA finishes group play in third place and will return to action on Wednesday at 10:00am ET/7:00am PT with the opponent TBD. All matches are scheduled to stream live on the World Aquatics YouTube. Live statistics will be available for every match from MicroPlus Timing Services.

Montenegro opened the scoring in this match with two quick goals before Team USA captain Ryder Dodd leveled the score with his own pair of goals. The two sides continued trading scores for the remainder of the period with Corbin Stanley, Kiefer Black, and Schneider connecting for the United States opposite three more goals for Montenegro, leaving the score knotted at 5-5 after one. The second quarter was when the Americans began to take control. Montenegro struck first but then went silent while Landon Akerstrom, Schneider, and Max Zelikov (2) pushed the lead to 9-6 at the half.

In the third, each side notched three scores. Montenegro was able to score the first two goals of the period to cut the deficit to one but they would get no closer than that. Schneider recorded the next two goals for the United States and then Benjamin Liechty pushed the lead to four before a late Montenegrin goal left the score 12-9 in favor of Team USA. The Americans were able to shut the door on any potential comeback with four straight goals from Bode Brinkema (3) and Dodd to begin the final frame. Montenegro managed a lone goal midway through the quarter to set the final score at 16-10 for the United States.

Team USA went 4/7 on power plays and 6/9 on penalties while Montenegro went 4/6 on power plays and 1/2 on penalties. 

Scoring – Stats

USA 16 (5, 4, 3, 4) W. Schneider 4, R. Dodd 3, B. Brinkema 3, M. Zelikov 2, L. Akerstrom 1, K. Black 1, B. Liechty 1, C. Stanley 1

MNE 10 (5, 1, 3, 1) I. Markovic 2, T. Perov 2, M. Nikaljevic 1, D. Dragovic 1, D. Stupar 1, D. Samardzic 1, N. Petrovic 1, N. Petrovic 1

Saves – USA – C. Mills 11 – MNE – A. Bjelica 4, D. Rajevic 1

6×5 – USA – 4/7 – MNE – 4/6

Penalties – USA – 6/9 – MNE – 1/2

 

By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
 
Not only had Nathaniel Ezekiel not been beaten in a 400-meter hurdles race since last summer’s Paris Olympics, the Baylor senior had rarely even been pushed during the NCAA outdoor track and field season.
 
“I feel like the whole season, I’ve actually been competing against myself,” he said.
 

In the semifinals at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ezekiel beat former Baylor teammate Johnny Brackins of USC by more than two seconds. And when he was finally pushed by Texas A&M senior Ja’Qualon Scott over the last 100 meters in Friday’s final, the Nigerian Olympian responded.
 
“That was pretty cool,” said Ezekiel, who pulled away from Scott down the stretch to win in a school-record time of 47.49 seconds that ranks as the third-fastest in NCAA history and the fourth-fastest time in the world this year.
 

“I think sometimes, when there’s a lot of pressure, that’s when you actually do your best. I felt the guy from A&M right behind me, and I was like, ‘No, bro, no way you’re getting first!’ The pressure was good, I love it. Feeling that kind of pressure from someone for the first time in the season, I was like, ‘Okay, this is good. I just have to kick it again.”’
 
Baylor head coach Michael Ford said Ezekiel “set it up really well” in the early stages of Friday’s final.
 
“I thought those first six hurdles, he set it up like he wanted to,” Ford said. “I think he had a small little issue on, I want to say, hurdle eight. I think he got a little too close to it. He was running really well through there, but then he cleaned up hurdle nine. And hurdle nine is usually the one that I’m always concerned about him.
 
“I always tell him to go have fun. Just execute like you’ve been doing all year. You’re the only one that has run under 48 this year. Just do what you’ve been doing.”
 
One of 10 male candidates on the latest update for the Bowerman Award that’s presented to the top collegiate track and field athletes of the year, Ezekiel capped off his phenomenal four-year career at Baylor with his first NCAA national championship.
 
 A nine-time All-American, Ezekiel was a two-time bronze medalist in the outdoor 400-meter hurdles and was the runner-up in the 400 meters at the 2025 NCAA Indoor Championship, losing by one-hundredth of a second to Georgia’s Will Floyd.
 
“It’s amazing,” said Ezekiel, Baylor’s first national champion in the 400 hurdles since two-time winner Bayano Kamani (1999, 2001) and the Bears’ first outdoor national champion since Trayvon Bromell won the 100 meters in 2014. “I didn’t get it indoors, but I said to myself, ‘I’m going to do my best to bring it home in the outdoors.’ And I did. I should say God did. and I’m grateful.”
 
It was also Ford’s first NCAA outdoor national champion in four years as the head coach. Alexis Brown, who won the NCAA indoor championship in the long jump, was the bronze medalist outdoors.
 
“My first national champion as a (Baylor sprints) coach was here with Trayvon, so I told them, ‘Who’s going to be my first national champ as a head coach out here?”’ Ford said. “And Nate was the one who did it. it’s always going to be special to me, having our first national champion in Nate in the 400 hurdles.”
 
The Nigerian record-holder as well, Ezekiel is turning pro this summer and could be back in Eugene for a Diamond League meet on July 5. Ultimately, his goal would be to go against the best in the world at the World Championships Sept. 13-21 in Tokyo.
 
Ezekiel was actually ranked No. 2 in the world until Sunday, when reigning Olympic gold medalist Raj Benjamin (46.54) from the U.S. and Brazilian bronze medalist Alison dos Santos (46.68) were both clocked in under 47 seconds at a Diamond League meet in Stockholm, Sweden.
 
“It’s pretty amazing to run a fast time, 47.49, in my last race being a Baylor Bear,” Ezekiel said. “Obviously, I’ve learned a lot, and I’ve put that into practice. I consider myself a professional athlete, and I have the mindset to do something better.”
 
Ford will be back in Eugene even earlier, returning for the USA Track and Field U20 Championships that begin Thursday at historic Hayward Field, where the Bears will be represented by freshman sprinter Hannah Lowe and triple jumper Iyanna Webb.
 
A Bowerman Award candidate as well, Brown and junior sprinter Tiriah Kelley are scheduled to compete in the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships July 31-Aug. 3 in Eugene, vying for spots in the World Championships in Tokyo.
 
 
 

The Golden Bears will open their season at home against San Diego State.

VB6/16/2025 1:03 PM | By: Cal Athletics

Bears To Visit Nebraska, Open ACC Play At Virginia Tech

California volleyball has released its full schedule for the 2025 season, featuring seven matchups against teams who ended the 2024 season ranked in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) top 25 and four in the top five. The complete fall schedule can be seen here.
 
The Golden Bears will open their season at home, hosting the California Tournament on August 29-31 against San Diego State (Aug. 29) and San Francisco (Aug. 31) at Haas Pavilion.  Cal will also appear in the Ameritas Players Challenge in Lincoln, Nebraska, hosted by the powerhouse Cornhuskers, as well as the Cal Poly Tournament in San Luis Obispo.
 
The Vanderbilt Commodores, who just revived their volleyball program after a 45-year hiatus, will visit Berkeley Sept. 10 as part of ESPN Events’ “Showdown at the Net” showcase that features 16 matches between ACC and SEC schools.
 
“When building our nonconference schedule, the staff and I wanted competitive RPI matches that gave us opportunities to collect wins that would help our chances to make the NCAA Tournament,” Cal head coach Jen Malcom said. “We are particularly looking forward to playing at Nebraska in September – it’s an amazing place to play with a sellout crowd of over 10,000 volleyball fans who know and respect the game. Our team needs to start seeing and playing in environments like that before we are put into that situation in the future. Overall, we feel very confident that we will be tested before heading into ACC matches.”
 
Cal’s ACC schedule begins with visits to Virginia Tech (Sept. 27) and Virginia (Sept. 28) before the Bears return home to host 2024 NCAA runner-up Louisville (Oct. 3) and Notre Dame (Oct. 5).
 
The Bears and cross-bay rival Stanford will play in their annual Big Spike matchups in late November, first at Stanford on Nov. 19 and then in Berkeley on Nov. 23. Cal’s next home match will be its Senior Day, a clash against Boston College on Nov. 26, before closing out the regular season at Duke on Nov. 28.
 
“We feel ready as we head into year two of being in the ACC,” Malcom said. “The conference could look very different this year due to graduation and transfers. After finishing 12th in the standings last year, we know that being in the top half is doable for our group this season.”
 
In addition to Louisville and Stanford, the Bears will host two other teams that ended last year with a top-25 ranking (Pitt on Nov. 14 and SMU on Nov. 16), as well as NCAA Tournament teams Florida State (Oct. 18) and North Carolina (Nov. 9). In total, Cal will play seven of 2024’s top-25 teams and 10 tournament squads, as the Bears are also set to visit USC on Sept. 21, Georgia Tech on Oct. 24 and NC State on Nov. 2.
 
Cal expects to field a stout defense this season, led by specialist Sophia Johnson as well as top blockers Sawyer Thomsen and Mikayla Hayden. On offense, setter Natalie Lau returns for her senior season after posting the ACC’s fourth-highest assists and assists-per-set total as a first-year starter in 2024, while classmate Peyton DeJardin will provide a veteran presence on the left side. Looking for her chance to make an impact for the Bears this season is redshirt freshman Grace Agolli, the 2023-24 Gatorade Georgia Player of the Year who sat out last year due to injury.
 
The team will feature seven newcomers this season. Cal’s five-women freshman class includes USA Volleyball (USAV) Nationals All-American defensive specialist Francesca Popescu, who joined the Bears in the spring, as well as USAV National Champion opposite Annemarie O’Gara, Texas Girls Coaches Association (TCGA) All-State outside hitter Arissa Carbonara, Romanian National Team setter Maria Știrbu and Triple Crown NIT Open Division Champion Elise Lau, a defensive specialist. The Bears’ transfer class is composed of outside hitter Dominique Phills (Iowa) and middle blocker Ashleigh Woodruff (Stony Brook).
 
 
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