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Greg Nixon was a standout
wide receiver for Howard Payne.
Howard Payne athletics file photo
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2008 Olympic Trials finalist, 2010 World Indoor Championships 4x400m relay gold medalist and former Howard Payne football standout Greg Nixon captured his first USA Outdoor men's 400 meter title by setting a personal best and world leading time of 44.61 seconds.
The 2007 USA Indoor 400 meter champion, Nixon also won earlier
this year in Des Moines, Iowa, at the Drake Relays in what was a
personal-best time of 45.08.
Nixon caught 57 passes for 706 yards and five touchdowns over his
final two seasons as a wide receiver for the Yellow Jackets. In the
offseason, he was winning Division III track championships: one in
the 100 meter (2006) and two in the 200 meter (2005, 2006).
Down the stretch Nixon held off 2008 NACAC champion LeJerald
Betters, who finished as the runner-up in 44.71 seconds, which is
his best finish ever at this event. Jamaal Torrence finished third
in 44.80, with Mississippi State's Tavaris Tate fourth in
44.84.
"I made it to the 300 mark and I saw Jamaal Torrence and I were
going one-two and I knew I had a great shot," said Nixon. "Right
now this is one of the best. It's my (personal record) but I still
have to finish the season."
2004 Olympic gold medalist and two-time World Outdoor champion
Jeremy Wariner fell to the track after 120 meters. Wariner stated
after the race that he felt a pain in his hip flexor after
over-striding.