By Justin Gaymon //  Photo by Victah Sailer of Photorun

David Verburg made it look easy.

He had run the season’s fastest time by an American during heat one of the USA Track and Field National Championship 400m semi-final with 44.41, outkicking Bryshon Nellum (44.92) and his training partner Tony McQuay (44.93) during the races final 30 meters.

But that’s not the part that looked easy.

While many runners have some difficulty navigating the long, uphill walk to the mixed zone and changing area after their race, Verburg did it with an easy, confident stride that sent the message that he was ready for the race’s final.

“I actually was pretty tired,” admitted Verburg, who helped Team USA break the 4x400m relay indoor world record last year. “But you don’t want to show the competition that you’re tired.  You want them to know that you’re ready.”

LaShawn Merritt had once again made running sub-45 seconds look like a walk in the park with his 44.78 first place finish out of heat two. He also, as usual, showed very little sign of fatigue while walking off the track.

Verburg admitted that he wasn’t as focused during the recent adidas Grand Prix, where he ran 45.43 for fourth place. But to his credit, that had been his third race in less than two weeks and each of those races had taken place in different countries.

But Verburg is laser focused now.

“The goal for the final is to win. I know LaShawn and a bunch of other guys are going to be coming. I just have to stay in my lane and stay focused.”

The 400m final takes place at 2:42pm PT on June 27. Coverage for day three of USA Track and field Nationals Championships is as follows:

7:30AM PT Racewalk - LIVE on USATF.tv

10AM - 12:30PM PT - All Events - LIVE on USATF.tv

1PM - 3PM PT - LIVE on NBC [check local listings - Live Stream Link: http://liveextra.nbcsports.com] (Field Events will be LIVE on USATF.tv)

3PM - 6:30PM PT - All Events - LIVE on USATF.tv

3PM PT - THE COOL DOWN - on USATF.tv