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Rayven Sample, a 2020 Cassadaga Valley graduate, won the T45-47 400-meter title at the U.S. Paralympic Trials on Friday in Miramar, Fla.
MIRAMAR, Fla. — Rayven Sample added another gold medal to his treasure chest with a fantastic finish in the 400-meter dash at the U.S. Paralympic Team Trials on Friday.
Sample, a recent graduate of Bucknell University, ran in the mixed T45-47 Divisions race.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better performance in the 400 meters today,” said Sample, a 2020 Cassadaga Valley Central School graduate. “Words can’t express how great hearing 49 seconds over the loudspeakers was. It’s been a difficult past two years as I’ve admittedly underperformed consistently. From scoring in the Patriot League to barely racing my high school times hurt. I want to thank the coaching staff and my teammates who never stopped believing in me as I worked to remake the athlete I had been. While Coach (Richard Alexander) will never accept any form of credit for today’s performance, our work together the past weeks since graduation has been so important for making this possible. Coach A will say that I was responsible for this time, but I want to credit my fourth all-time best time to the great work of Coach A and Coach Shirk. The final decision from Team USA about the Paris roster will come on Sunday and if I make the team, I’m determined to make my unofficial T45 400-meter world record into an official record by racing under 49.21 seconds again.”
Almost as scorching as the blazing Florida sun, Sample ran a blistering 49.46. The time beat out the silver-place finisher, Tanner Wright, by 0.19 seconds.
The Orange and Blue graduate conquered the heat and odds and raced hard down the final stretch to pass up Wright in the final 50 meters. Sample’s victory was keyed by his fast start which kept him within striking distance and set up his exhilarating victory.
His 49.46 time marks the first time he has broken the 50-second mark in the outdoor 400-meter dash since the 2023 IC4A Championships when he ran 49.79. The mark is a testament to his extensive training routine. Sample was a common sight around Bucknell’s campus as he remained in Lewisburg for his training. The presence at the meet of Alexander, Bucknell’s sprint coach, provided an extra boost.
“I’m extremely happy for Rayven,” said Alexander. “He has worked hard to arrive at this moment. Being able to run his best outdoor 400-meter dash in two years in the biggest moment is a great way to finish. He executed a great race and navigated the heat and wind well. He will have to wait and see, but I think that time gives him a great chance of being selected to the Paralympic team.”
While Sample will have to wait until Sunday at 9:30 a.m. for the Paris Paralympics team announcement, his list of accomplishments dating back to his athletic career with the Falconer/Cassadaga Valley merged soccer, cross country and track & field teams are so impressive.
Last November, he earned a bronze medal in the men’s T47 400 meters at the Parapan-American Games in Santiago, Chile. Prior to that, he was a member of the 2021 United States Paralympic Team where he reached the finals of the 400 meters. Always quick to thank those who have supported him during his running career, Sample paid a visit to the Falconer Invitational in 2022 where he presented Golden Cougars’ coaches Dave Nelson and Nick Spry his framed Paralympic jersey and number.
Sample competes today in the T45-47 100-meter dash today at 11:12 a.m. The event will be streamed on Peacock.