For the first two-plus laps of the men’s 800m at the 2020 NYRR Millrose Games, it appeared that Donavan Brazier was not having his best day. The 22-year-old, who won the 2019 world title last fall in Doha with aggressive tactics, found himself in fourth place at 400m on Saturday. Very un-Brazier-like.

But a cautious first half gave way to a scintillating finish as Brazier produced an American record at the Armory for the second straight year.

24.8 final lap ??pic.twitter.com/FEDRA4V4OA

— FloTrack (@FloTrack) February 8, 2020

With the bell approaching, Brazier shifted into another gear as he blew away the field with a 24.89 last 200m en route to a 1:44.22 U.S. record. The run lowered the 1:44.41 national record he set last year when he finished runner-up to Michael Saruni at the Millrose Games.

On Saturday, Brazier went unchallenged as Bryce Hoppel finished a distant second in a 1:45.70 indoor personal best.