Ejam Yohannes didn’t arrive as a finished product. The Loyola High School senior built this, step by step, season by season — and the progression from his freshman year until now tells the real story. Ejam Yohannes being interviewed during the 2026 Redondo Track Festival after running a season opener of 46.24 seconds in the 400 on March 14, 2026 | Ignacio Pérez As a freshman in 2023, Yohannes was still finding his footing. His early marks sat in the mid-50s in the 400 meters, topping out at 52.48 by the end of the year. It was solid, promising even, but nothing that immediately pointed to what was coming. At that stage, he looked like a developing sprinter learning how to manage the event, not someone who would eventually sit near the top of California. The jump came quickly. By his sophomore season in 2024, Yohannes had already cut significant time, bringing his 400 down to 50.75 while also experimenting with the 800 meters, where he dipped under two minutes (1:59.80). That alone marked a shift.…