Christopher Morales Williams sets 400 world record

Christopher Morales Williams stunned the track world Saturday with a new record in the 400 meters. The University of Georgia sophomore was the biggest story at the Southeastern Conference Indoor Track & Field Championship.

Morales Williams set the 400-meter record with a time of 44.49 at the University of Arkansas’ Randal Tyson Track Center. He broke his previous personal best of 45.39 by almost a second.

Christopher Morales Williams, 19, started in Lane 6 Saturday. He took the lead at the break and never looked back, literally and figuratively. Florida’s JeVaughn Powell finished a distant second in 45.61 seconds.

‘A dream’

“I thought about (the world record), definitely,” Morales Williams told the University of Georgia’s social media team. “I think it’s definitely been a dream for me. But I was thinking of it more one step at a time. I was thinking maybe just winning SEC. I wasn’t really thinking about the time. 

“But then the world record, I guess that is just something you really wouldn’t expect to happen. But it did. I put it up there as a goal, but I wasn’t really expecting to break it right now.”

MORE FROM OUR ESQUINA

Record six Latino managers set for 2024 MLB season

Abuelo’s touch pushes 5-Star Peyton Woodyard

Five-Star Devin Sanchez commits to Ohio State

Christopher Morales Williams represents Canada internationally. The 5-foot-10 sprinter from Vaughan, Ontario, is one of Canada’s best sprinters. While still in high school, he won the 200 and 400 at the U-10 Canadian Championships.

Christopher Morales Williams makes steady progress

He entered Saturday No. 5 in the 2024 national standings. Christopher Morales Williams has made tremendous progress over the last year. As a freshman last season, his best 400-meter time indoors was 47.42. His best 400-meter time last year outdoors was  45.87.

MR. WORLDWIDE 🌎@UGATrack’s Christopher Morales Williams runs a 44.49 in the 400M to set a NEW WORLD RECORD! 🚨#SECTF x #SECChampionship pic.twitter.com/zis0VOzX5L

— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) February 25, 2024

He had placed first in the 400 meters twice this month. Two weeks ago he posted a time of 45.39 at the Tiger Paw Invitational at Clemson, S.C. Morales Williams also placed first at the New Balance Showdown in Boston last January with a time of 46:05.

He entered the SEC Indoor Track and Field championship with the third best 400 meter time in school history. Elija Godwin set the school record in the 400 last year with a time of 44.75. Christopher Morales Williams broke the school record along with the world record on Saturday.