“Man, it’s crazy. I can’t even put it into words right now. Like, I ain’t PR’d in the 400 since 2021.” That was a track and field athlete moments after he crossed the finish line at the Grand Slam Track meet in Miami — stunned, speechless, and victorious. The 25-year-old, who juggles life as a UPS worker with an unsponsored track career, just ran himself into the global spotlight. Clocking a sensational 43.98 seconds in the 400m, the athlete didn’t just set a personal best — he joined the exclusive sub-44-second club and posted the world-leading time for the season. But that was just the beginning.
Fast-forward three weeks to the Rabat Diamond League on Sunday, May 25 — a high-stakes showdown featuring the heavyweights of the 400m. The start list looked like a championship final: Zakithi Nene (currently 4th on the world list), Quincy Hall (reigning Olympic champion), and Bryce Deadmon (ranked 6th globally). It was a race stacked with pedigree, medals, and pressure. And standing amid the elite? The blue-collar bullet, Jacory Patterson. What followed was a race to remember.
Patterson stormed past Zakithi Nene in the final 50 meters to win the men’s 400m in 44.37 seconds, notching his first-ever Diamond League victory. Nene finished second in 44.46, and Quincy Hall took third in 44.90. NBC Sports’ Director of Social Media, Travis Miller, couldn’t contain his excitement, writing on X: “That finish from Jacory Patterson to get his first career Diamond League win! #RabatDL.” So, what made it so special?
That finish from Jacory Patterson to get his first career Diamond League win! #RabatDL pic.twitter.com/cHBpADo8dU
— Travis Miller (@travismillerx13) May 25, 2025
Let the race commentary paint the picture: “Bryce Dedmon in lane 5 in the yellow. Dedmon’s centre of picture coming round the inside there of the men outside him. Jacory Patterson, second to left. In the all-white inside him, Quincy Hall, the Olympic champion, has got some hard running to do. He’s grimacing hard, but look at this run from Zakithi Nene of South Africa. Is he going to get caught by Patterson? It’s going to be tight in the line. Patterson does get there. Brilliant finishing from Patterson,” It was textbook strategy — only this time, Jacory beat Quincy Hall at his own game. Hall, famous for saving a final burst of energy for the last 50 meters, had no answer for the Virginian’s late kick. One X-user, Mookie Alexander, nailed it with his post: “Pulled a Quincy Hall in the last 50 with Quincy next to him!” What makes Patterson’s rise even more impressive is the context. No sponsor. No major backing. Just grit, grind, and belief. Yet he’s now handed back-to-back defeats to elite names — first Jereem Richards three weeks ago, and now the Olympic champion Quincy Hall. And the promise was always there.
Back in 2021, after Patterson ran a 44.81 to place second at the Florida Relays, Virginia Tech Associate Head Coach Tim Vaught saw what was coming: “There’s not many people that can say they’ve run a 44-second 400m. This is his first 400m outdoors in five weeks. Think of what he’s going to be able to run at ACCs. It’s early in the season; the goal is to just keep him healthy and keep him focused. He’s had ups and downs, but this is his time.” Four years later, those words ring truer than ever. Jacory Patterson’s time has come. From UPS shifts to world-class sprints, he’s not just running — he’s rewriting the narrative of what it means to chase greatness in track and field. And the fans are rightly following.
Track and field fans feel awestruck watching the late kick
That was just one of the many fired-up reactions underneath Travis Miller’s X-post following Jacory Patterson’s electric win in Rabat. And it’s not hard to see why track fans are rallying behind him — Jacory Patterson isn’t just winning races, he’s transforming his entire game, and fans are locked in. For those who’ve been following his journey, this version of Patterson feels like something different. Something refined. Something dangerous. One user captured it perfectly: “I’m really happy to see him go crazy.” They weren’t wrong. This isn’t just raw speed anymore — this is tactical brilliance. Patterson knew exactly when to punch the gas, and he executed it with a cold-blooded precision that left seasoned names like Quincy Hall and Zakithi Nene in disbelief. The final 50 meters weren’t just fast — they were explosive. Meanwhile, someone commented, “The timing from Patterson was on point.”
“That was some lift over the last 50m. Whoa,” another fan marveled. But perhaps the most telling comment came from someone already looking ahead to what this means for Team USA: “That 4×4 is gonna be blazing. Everyone gonna be sub 44 on that team.” And they’re not exaggerating. The U.S. men’s 4x400m pool is already stacked with some serious firepower: Chris Robinson, Christopher Bailey, Bryce Deadmon, Vernon Norwood, Quincy Hall, Fred Kerley Joseph Taylor, Khaleb MCRAE, and Josiah Wrice. Now, add Jacory Patterson to that mix — not just as a dark horse, but as a legitimate anchor or opener. With back-to-back sub-44.5s (including a 43.98 world lead), he’s made himself undeniable.
What started as an underdog story is quickly becoming a world-class weapon. And if the comments, excitement, and new technique are any indication, Jacory Patterson isn’t done — he’s just revving up.
The post Track and Field World Stunned as UPS Worker Left Olympic Champion in Dust With Career-First Diamond League Win appeared first on EssentiallySports.