Did you miss us?!
The U.S. Olympic Trials are back and better than ever in the second half of the 8-day program, with incredible drama, upsets, and underdog stories across the board.
The race of the day (and perhaps the week?) was the women’s steeplechase, where a fast early pace and a topsy-turvy final lap ended with a whole slew of personal bests and rewriting of the record books. Tokyo Olympian Val Constien ended up on top thanks to a phenomenal final 400m, running 9:03.22 to PR by 11 seconds and land at #3 on the U.S. all-time list. Constien had ACL surgery last year and after a long road back is better than ever.
We got our first peeks at the 400m hurdles crew, and the main takeaway from the first round is that Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Rai Benjamin are looking like world beaters out for an easy jog. McLaughlin-Levrone in particular shut it down entirely over the final two laps and still ran 53.07, the third-fastest performance in the world this year behind her own season’s best and Femke Bol’s world lead.
Speaking of first looks, Erriyon Knighton doesn’t seem to have missed a step as he ran his first 200m in four months, cruising through the first round with a 20.15 just behind Noah Lyles’s 20.10 in an earlier heat. And a stacked final is set for the 5000m, where reigning U.S. champ Abdi Nur takes on two of the three members of Team USA in the 10,000m, the 1500m Trials champ, and two NCAA champs.
The middle-distance rounds will continue to get more and more cutthroat, with the women’s 1500m featuring Elle St. Pierre, Heather MacLean, Cory McGee, Emily MacKay, Elise Cranny, Nikki Hiltz, Sinclaire Johnson, and more heading to the semis and Olympians Bryce Hoppel and Clayton Murphy looking ready to once again do battle in the 800m.
Nikki Hiltz is a prominent American middle-distance runner specializing in the 1500 meters. They have been a standout performer in national and international competitions, known for their resilience and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights. Hiltz has achieved significant milestones including strong showings at the USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships and has represented the United States in various international meets.
Noah Lyles is an American sprinter born on July 18, 1997, known for his exceptional speed and versatility across multiple track events. With personal bests that include a stunning 9.79 seconds in the 100 metres and 19.31 seconds in the 200 metres, Lyles is regarded as one of the top sprinters in the world, earning recognition in both individual and relay competitions.
Clayton Murphy is an accomplished American middle-distance runner specializing in the 800 meters and 1500 meters. He gained prominence after winning a bronze medal in the 800 meters at the 2016 Rio Olympics, showcasing his speed and competitive spirit. Murphy has also been a standout performer at the World Championships and the Diamond League circuit, establishing himself as one of the top middle-distance runners in the United States.
Elise Cranny is an accomplished middle and long-distance runner from the United States. She has competed in events such as the 1500 meters, 5000 meters, and 10000 meters. Cranny is known for her strong performances at national championships and as part of the Bowerman Track Club.
