Sha’Carey Richardson celebrates her victory during the women’s 100-meter final at the USA Track and Field Olympic Team Trials in Eugene, Oregon, on Saturday.
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EUGENE, Ore. — Olympians were born and world records were broken. The U.S. Olympic track and field team was decided after 10 days of competition at Hayward Field, providing a preview of what they can do at the Paris Games, which begin in less than a month.
Here are some highlights from the Olympic qualifying tournament, which concluded on Sunday.
Stars to watch in Paris
Sydney McLaughlin LevroneHer biggest rival is herself. He broke his own world record in the 400-meter hurdles on Sunday with a time of 50.65 seconds, just shy of the 50.68 he recorded on the same track two years ago.
A look of amazement was on her face after she crossed the finish line.
“I was a little shocked because it wasn’t the best stride pattern,” she told reporters after the feat, “but I’m really grateful to know that I’m in good shape and there are areas where I can improve.”
She will be looking to raise the bar again in Paris.
“I hope I can be under 50. [seconds] “One day,” she says, “it’s really fun to think about how to improve history in any way.”
The 24-year-old began her Olympic journey eight years ago in Rio and went on to win gold in the 400m hurdles and the 4x400m team event in Tokyo.
She said she never gets tired of representing the U.S. as an Olympian.
“It’s like reliving a childhood dream over and over again. I don’t take it for granted.”
Sprinter Shakari Richardson She came to Hayward because she had a lot to prove: She was banned from competing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for THC. She blamed her marijuana use on the recent death of her mother and pressure to perform, saying on social media at the time, “I am human.”
And she proved it: In Eugene, she made the U.S. national team in the 100 meters, but her attempt to add the 200 meters as a second event fell apart, finishing in fourth place.
it was Gabby Thomas, Brittany Brown and Mackenzie Long These are the athletes who won the 200 meters and qualified to compete in the Paris Games.
Gabby Thomas celebrates with third-place finisher Mackenzie Long after winning the women’s 200-meter final at the USA Track and Field Olympic Team Trials in Eugene, Oregon on Saturday.
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Thomas won a bronze medal in the 200 meters and a silver medal as part of the 4×100 meters relay team in Tokyo. What’s new for her this time is the crowds cheering her on.
“I’m a bit of an introvert so with a lot of people I get easily distracted and overwhelmed, but yeah, I think it’ll be fun,” she said after Saturday’s final.
But she says she has always thrived under pressure, a skill she has honed since Tokyo.
“I take comfort in knowing that when I stood on the starting line today, I was thinking, ‘See, I’ve proven to myself that I can do this,'” she said.
Meanwhile, Brown and Long will be competing in their first Olympic Games, with Long drawing strength from the memory of her mother, who died suddenly in February.
“It feels so surreal to think that I’m an Olympian,” she told reporters after the race, “and I know my mom is blushing and smiling.”
Noah Lyles, Kenny Bednarek and Fred Currie All of the 100-meter competitors have qualified for the U.S. Championships, and Lyles has come out on top so far in terms of both speed and personality, with the 26-year-old grabbing attention by pulling out his ever-growing collection of Yu-Gi-Oh trading cards from his suit after each round and showcasing his love of anime.
Lyles would have two wins in Paris, including winning the 200m final at the Trials, but he wouldn’t celebrate until he won gold.
“It’s like, OK, great, job done, I’m excited, let’s keep going, let’s keep the pressure on,” he told reporters.
Noah Lyles celebrates after winning the men’s 200-meter final at the USA Track and Field Olympic Team Trials in Eugene, Oregon on Saturday.
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In the 110m hurdles, Grant Holloway, Daniel Roberts and Freddie Crittenden History was made: it was the first time in history that three men had crossed the finish line of the 110-meter hurdles in under 13 seconds.
There are already rumors of this trio dominating the Olympic podium.
“I mean, we’re already making progress,” Holloway told reporters after clocking his second-fastest time in Saturday’s final. “I think, personally, we’re right where we need to be.”
Stylish shot put specialist Raven Sanders During the trial appearance, they wore what they described as Day of the Dead masks.
“This is a way to show people I’m back, I never left,” Sanders, who identifies with “they/them” pronouns, said after finishing second.
The fan-favourite Olympic silver medallist in Tokyo was suspended last year for missing several drug tests.
Sanders used the forced break to focus on himself.
“I just looked at this time as a time where I could focus on my efforts, focus on making the Olympic team and focus on my mental health,” they said.
Chase JacksonThe shot putter, known for wearing elaborate eye makeup on the field and sharing Lyles’ love of anime, beat out Sanders for first place and is making her first Olympic team.
Chase Jackson competes in the women’s shot put final at the USA Track and Field Olympic Team Trials in Eugene, Oregon on Saturday.
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Big Break
On Saturday night, Weini Kelati She sprinted down the track in the final leg of the women’s 10,000m race, took the lead, lost it, then regained it one more time to win.
“I had to be patient because I knew I have the speed and the kicking power, I’ve been practicing,” Kelati told reporters after the win.
It’s the latest chapter in 27-year-old Kelati’s remarkable journey. In 2014, Kelati competed on this same track representing her native Eritrea, an East African nation. During the international competition, Kelati sought asylum to escape political turmoil in her home country. Then a teenager, she left her family and friends behind to settle in the United States as a refugee. Ten years later, Kelati’s victory secured her a spot on the U.S. Summer Olympics team.
Wayni Kelati celebrates after winning the women’s 10,000m final at the USA Track and Field Olympic Team Trials in Eugene, Oregon on Saturday.
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“I can’t believe it. I think it’ll sink in soon,” she said. “I can’t believe it right now. I’m speechless.”
Kelati said she is proud to be competing for her adopted country, but will also have her family back home in Eritrea cheering her on.
“They watch. Every time I race, wherever I go, they follow me and watch me race,” she said.
Broken Heart
If you fall in one race Asing Moo With his Olympic hopes dashed, the defending gold medalist stumbled and fell a quarter of the way through the 800 meters, costing him a chance to make the U.S. team. Nia Akins He won in a personal best time of 1:57.36.
On Sunday, at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Team Trials in Eugene, Oregon, Asing Mu won the women’s 800 meters in a fierce battle between Kate Grace and Michaela Rose in the semifinals.
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“It’s tough to watch, especially for someone like Assing who can win gold medals,” the 400m hurdler said. Rye Benjamin “I feel sorry for her because she should have been there, but that’s the U.S. track and field team. It’s the hardest team to make and anything can happen,” she said in an interview with NBC on Monday.
NPR’s Brian Mann contributed to this report.
