Complete Meet Results

BRADENTON, FL -- Cal State LA's Khallifah Rosser put an exclamation point on a sensational season Saturday by capturing the NCAA Division II 400-meter intermediate hurdles championship at the IMG Academy.

Rosser, the West Region Track Athlete of the Year, won the championship with a personal best time of 49.04, which ties the Cal State LA record set by Sam Turner in 1978. Rosser's previous best was a 49.27 clocking that he achieved while winning the elite race at the Mt. SAC Relays in April.

The race had a familiar look to it as Rosser, running in lane No. 4, took quick command. He made up the stagger on the top competitors almost from the start and never wavered before finishing with a comfortable winning margin. Shawn Rose of St. Augustine's, who had the nation's No. 2 time entering the race, was second in 49.93 and Tobia Lahbi was third in 51.47.

"It was such an amazing experience to come out and represent Cal State LA here at Nationals," Rosser said. "I'm so thankful and blessed to have had the opportunity to come out and compete and win a national title. And to top it all off, I was able to run my best time of the season. This will definitely boost my confidence going into the 2016 Olympic Trials."

Rosser won the first national championship in men's track and field for Cal State LA since Josh Como and Giorgio Bryant won national titles in the triple jump and long jump in 2011. The intermediate hurdles title is the first for Cal State LA since Gordon Bugg in 1985.

"Before Khallifah's race today, I told him to visualize how he wanted the race to be and then go execute it that way. When the race started, I thought that Khallifah didn't get out through the first few hurdles like he should have. It looked like he held back a little," Cal State LA assistant coach Orentheus Hutcherson said. "The rest of his race was O.K. He did everything he was supposed to do. It was the cleanest race he's run all year. I was expecting him to run in the mid to high 48 range, but it will come. If he gets out the first few hurdles the way he should, he'll get there. Overall, it was an outstanding race. Khallifah got an all-time PR, a national championship and tied the school record, so it was a good day."

The title was the 29th championship in men's track and field history for Cal State LA

"I'm so excited and proud of Khallifah Rosser, Coach Orentheus, and our Golden Eagle Family for bringing a national title back to our great university," Cal State LA Head Coach Tina Fernandes said. "I hear people say he just has talent, but this guy works hard. He is dedicated both on and off the track. Although he had to miss school this week for nationals, he still stayed focused on his studies trying to be prepared for a class presentation, an essay, and multiple finals coming soon. Khallifah has also been there supporting his team from the beginning to the end, uplifting his teammates and encouraging them with each event. The best part about Khallifah Rosser, in my opinion, is his overall personality. He is truly humble and just a wonderful person. I am very proud that he chose to be a part of our Golden Eagle Family."

Rosser, who also won the California Collegiate Athletic Association 400 hurdles title, earned 10 team points for his victory and enabled Cal State LA to finish in a tie for 25th. St. Augustine's won the team title.