# Vernon Norwood

Vernon Larnard Norwood (born April 10, 1992) is an American track and field athlete who specializes in the 400 meters.

## Biography

Raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, he is the son of Curtis Norwood and Charliette Ray. Norwood started running track in his junior year at Morgan City High School.

### College

For South Plains College, Norwood was a multiple time NJCAA national champion.
For the LSU Tigers, he was a four time NCAA national champion.

### Professional

In 2015, Norwood finished 3rd at the US Outdoor Championships, to secure a spot in the United States team at the World Championships in the 400 meters. He made it to the semi-final and did not advance to the final in the 400m, and won a gold medal as part of the 4x400m relay squad.
During the 2016 indoor season, Norwood made his second USA team by winning the 400m at the US Indoor Championships. At the World Indoor Championships, he was disqualified for stepping on the inside of his lane during the first round of the 400 meters, and won gold in the 4x400m relay.
Norwood won a silver medal as part of the 4x4 relay team at the 2018 World Indoor Championships.
In 2019, Norwood finished 4th at the US Outdoor Championships in a new personal best of 44.40. He competed at the 2019 World Championships, where he went out in the semi-finals of the 400 metres and won gold in the 4x400m relay.
In 2021, Norwood ran a new 200m personal best of 20.30s in Baton Rouge. He finished 5th at the US Olympic trials and qualified for the 4x400 relay teams at the Tokyo Olympics. Norwood won a bronze medal as part of the Mixed 4x400m relay team and a gold medal as part of the Men's 4x400m relay team.
Norwood finished 4th in the 400m at the 2022 US Outdoor Championships in a new personal best of 44.35s. He competed at the 2022 World Championships Where he won bronze as part of the Mixed 4x400m relay team and gold as part of the Men's 4x400 relay team.
In 2023, Norwood finished 2nd at the US Outdoor Championships, qualifying for the 2023 World Athletics Championships, where he finished 4th in the 400m, having run a new personal best of 44.26s in the semi-final, he won a gold medal as part of the Men's 4x400m relay team.
At the 2024 US Olympic Trials, Norwood finished 4th in the 400m with a time of 44.47s. He ran a personal best of 44.10s over 400m at the London Athletics Meet. Norwood competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics, he won a silver medal as part of the Mixed 4x400m relay team, having broken the world record in the heats and a gold medal as part of the Men's 4x400 relay team.

### USA National Track and field Championships

| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
| 2023 | USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Eugene, Oregon | 2nd | 400 metres | 44.39 |
| 2016 | USA Indoor Track and Field Championships | Portland, Oregon | 1st | 400 metres | 45.80 |
| 2015 | USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Eugene, Oregon | 3rd | 400 metres | 44.80 |

## International competitions

| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
| 2014 | NACAC U23 Championships | Kamloops, Canada | 1st | 4 x 400 m relay | 3:04.34 |
| 2014 | NACAC U23 Championships | Kamloops, Canada | 3rd | 400 m | 45.56 |
| 2015 | World Championships | Beijing, China | 1st (h) | 4 x 400 m relay | 2:58.13 |
| 2016 | Indoor World Championships | Portland, USA | 1st | 4 x 400 m relay | 3:02.45 |
| 2016 | Indoor World Championships | Portland, USA | DQ | 400 m | - |
| 2018 | Indoor World Championships | Birmingham, England | 2nd | 4 x 400 m relay | 3:01.97 |
| 2019 | World Relays | Yokohama, Japan | 1st | 4 x 200 m relay | 1:20.12 |
| 2019 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | 4th (sf) | 400 m | 45.02 |
| 2019 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | 1st (h) | 4 x 400 m relay | 2:59.89 |
| 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | 3rd | Mixed 4 x 400 m relay | 3:10.22 |
| 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | 1st (h) | 4 x 400 m relay | 2:57.77 |
| 2022 | World Championships | Eugene, USA | 3rd | Mixed 4 x 400 m relay | 3:10.16 |
| 2022 | World Championships | Eugene, USA | 1st (h) | 4 x 400 m relay | 2:58.96 |
| 2023 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | 4th | 400 m | 44.39 |
| 2023 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | 1st | 4 x 400 m relay | 2:57.31 |
| 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris, France | 2nd | Mixed 4 x 400 m relay | 3:07.74 |
| 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris, France | 1st | 4 x 400 m relay | 2:54.43 OR |