SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Beating his previous best by more than half a second, Baylor quarter-miler Wil London finished third in Saturday's 400-meter finals at the USATF Outdoor Championships and earned a spot in the IAAF World Championships later this summer in London.

At the USATF Junior Championships, also run at Sacramento State's Hornet Stadium, rising sophomore Maxwell Willis captured the 100-meter title before pulling up with a cramp in the 200-meter finals. He advances to the Pan American Junior Championships July 21-23 in Lima, Peru.

Just two weeks ago, running out of the same Lane 1 that he had in Saturday's final, London went out too fast and finished eighth at the NCAA Championships in 45.72. This time, in a field that included three former Olympians and the reigning NCAA champion, London ran a much smarter race and finished third with a sizzling time of 44.47 seconds that ranks as the fourth-best in program history.

"It hasn't quite hit me yet," said London, a rising junior from Waco High School, whose previous best was 45.02. "I'm still walking around the same person I was before. I was more excited about running 44, I was just happy with that. I was hoping I could get that sixth spot to get in the relay pool on the team. And then, when I saw I came across and got third place, that was kind of a shocker. I followed Coach's plan, and it worked."

Before the race, London said he reviewed the mistakes he made at the NCAA Championships and heeded the advice of Baylor Director of Track and Field Clyde Hart: "Everybody's in front of you, just kind of people pick off as you go."

"I think it gave him more confidence when he came off about the 300-meter mark and he realized he wasn't as far back as he was," said associate coach Mike Ford. "I think that second turn was probably the key to the race. He ran a really good curve. And then, once he got up to probably the last 80 meters, he realized he was in a good position, and he was able to pull London were former Olympians Bryshon Nellum and Tony McQuay, along with LSU's Michael Cherry and USC freshman Michael Norman, who finished 3-4 at the NCAA meet.

"I think that's where running at the Olympic Trials last year kind of helped me get through this one," London said. "I was used to running against these fast guys. I knew I could beat some of them, and I knew most of them could beat me. It was just whoever crossed the line first, that's all it was." In the Baylor record books, London's 44.47 time ranks behind only former Olympic gold medalists and Baylor Hall of Famers Jeremy Wariner (44.00), Michael Johnson (44.21) and Darold Williamson (44.27).

Asked about London running in London, for the Aug. 4-13 IAAF World Championships, he said, "Sounds great. I might have to get that on a shirt." Coming off a disappointing performance at the NCAA Championships, Willis won Friday's 100-meter finals in 10.26 seconds after breezing through the prelims in 10.20. USC's Tarrick Brock Jr. was second in 10.33.

On Saturday, Willis posted the fastest qualifying time in the 200 at 20.55 and looked like he was on pace to top that when he pulled up at about the halfway mark with a cramp in his right hamstring. Tyrese Cooper from Miami Gardens Xpress won the final in 20.89.

"It's been really hot, and I think the sun just got to him a little bit today," Ford said. "He had a solid week. I think he's finally understanding how to run the 100. Since (the NCAA meet), we went back to the drawing board and kind of reloaded, got his legs fresher. He felt really confident going into the races, and I thought he executed really well. Even tonight, he was running faster than he did earlier today."

Willis, a native of Upper Marlboro, Md., will represent Team USA at the Pan American Junior Championships next month in Peru, running the 100 and possibly both relays.

Incoming freshman Riley Richards from China Spring narrowly missed a spot, finishing third in the pole vault with a mark of 17-2 ¾, clearing all three of his heights on the third and final attempt. Tate Curran, the winner on fewer misses, fell in the box and might not get medically cleared, leaving a spot open for Richards.

Fellow signee Jalen Seals from Fort Worth, Texas, led the triple jump through the first four rounds before finishing fourth with a mark of 49 feet, 10 inches. Last month, he won the 5A triple jump (50-2 ¼) and finished second in the long jump (23-9 ¾) at the state track meet.

Sydney Washington, an incoming freshman from Round Rock, Texas, finished sixth in her heat and 11th overall in the 100 meters with a time of 11.80. She also didn't make the 200 finals, finishing fifth in her heat and 13th overall in 24.62.

Rounding out the Baylor competitors, three-time All-American Annie Rhodes will get her shot in the pole vault at 2 p.m. CDT Sunday.