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Dwyne Smith Jr.'s remarkable performance at the 2024 Hamline Elite Meet solidified his status as not just one of the best 400m runners in Minnesota history, but arguably the greatest of all time. By shattering the 17-year-old state record with a stunning time of 46.93, Smith left no doubt about his exceptional talent and his place in Minnesota history.
His dominance was evident as he crossed the finish line a commanding 1.58 seconds ahead of the nearest competitor, Jack Markstrom. This victory not only secured Smith's place in Minnesota track and field history but also marked a significant improvement over his previous personal best of 47.55, which had already ranked him among the state's top performers.
2024 Hamline Elite Meet Boys 400m Results
| Rank | Runner | Time |
| 1 | Dwyne Smith Jr. | 46.93 |
| 2 | Jack Markstrom | 48.51 |
| 3 | Cooper Drake | 48.84 |
| 4 | Austin Kehr | 49.56 |
| 5 | Brandon Stark | 49.82 |
| 6 | Albert Ongwenyi | 49.87 |
| 7 | McKenzie Donlan | 49.89 |
| 8 | Tate Songstad | 50.22 |
| 9 | Darius Irvin | 50.60 |
The previous state record of 47.18, set by Mounds View graduate Quinn Evans back in 2007 at the Section 4AA Championships, stood for an impressive 17 years. Evans' record-breaking time had itself surpassed Randy Melbourne's longstanding record of 47.59, set in 1993.
By setting a new PR of 46.93, Smith beat his previous best by 0.62 seconds. This margin would be the difference between Evans old record and current #2 time, and the #13 time of 47.79.
All-Time MN Boys 400m Times
| Rank | Runner | Time | Year |
| 1 | Dwyne Smith Jr. | 46.93 | 2024 |
| 2 | Quinn Evans | 47.18 | 2007 |
| 3 | Ramy Ayoub | 47.34 | 2022 |
| 4 | Michael Smith | 47.40 | 2014 |
| 5 | Genuine Matthews | 47.42 | 2017 |
His time of 46.93 now ranks tied for 18th nationally in the 400m this outdoor season. The current #1 runner Quincy Wilson, owns a time of 45.19.
On top of his 400m accomplishment, Smith also finished 2nd in the 100m with a wind-aided time of 10.64 and was also the 200m champion with a time of 22.00 seconds, with -4.3m/s of wind.
Smith's accomplishment not only places him in the record books but also highlights his exceptional talent and dedication to his craft. His performance serves as a testament to the relentless pursuit of excellence in athletics and cements his legacy as one of Minnesota's greatest 400m runners of all time.
