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Written by Dave Hunter

Category: Event Coverage

Published: 17 July 2023

 Final Day World Leaders For Katie Moon, Gabby Thomas, and Rai Benjamin

The fans at Hawyward Field, photo by How Lao Photography

July 9,2023

Eugene, Oregon

Day Four of the 2023 USATF Outdoor Track & Field Championships featured an all-final card. And the competing athletes did not miss the opportunity to perform at their highest level.

wHT: The final day got underway with the women’s hammer throw. It was a showdown between ’19 world champion DeAnna Price and reigning world champion Brooke Andersen. Price’s early lead didn’t last long as Andersen’s 4th round heave of 78.65m/258’0″ sealed the win. Price finished 2nd (SB 78.18m/256’6″), while Janee Kassanavoid ( 76.44m/250’9″) grabbed 3rd. And with Andersen as the reigning world champion, 4th place finisher Jillian Shippee (74.93m/245’10”) also earned a ticket to Budapest.

wPV: The final of the women’s vault was a marquee event as Katie Moon dominated the field, clearing a world-leading and season’s best clearance of 4.90m/16’0 1/2″). Sandi Morris was 2nd with a top mark of 4.61m/15’1 1/2″. And high school phenom Hana Moll made the team with a personal best clearance of 4.61m/15’1 1/2″. With Moon as the reigning world champion, 4th place athlete Bridget Williams (4.61m/15’1 1/2″) also will be going to Budapest

Katie Moon, USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships held at Hayward Field, University of Oregon, July 6-10, 2023, photo by Kevin Morris

wDT: Valarie Allman got right down to business with a 2nd round throw of 65.46m/214’9″ that would prove to be the winning heave. Lagi Tausaga-Collins finished 2nd, and her 6th round throw of 65.46/214’9″ was a personal best that earned her the standard to also compete in Budapest.

Valarie Allman, USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships held at Hayward Field, University of Oregon, July 6-10, 2023, photo by Kevin Morris

mSP: Ryan Crouser’s opening throw of 22.82m/74’10 1/2″ would have been sufficient to clinch a victory for the 2-time Olympic Champion. But for good measure, the reigning world champion got out a final throw of 22.86m/75’0″. Josh Awotunde (22.10m/72’6 1/4″) finished 2nd, and Payton Otterdahl (22.09m/72’5 3/4″) was 3rd. 2019 world champion Joe Kovacs finished 4th (21.90/71’10 1/4) and will also compete in Hungary.

Ryan Crouser, USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships held at Hayward Field, University of Oregon, July 6-10, 2023, photo by Kevin Morris

w800m: Nia Ali ran a savvy race and came up with the victory in 1:59.50. Armed with the standard, 4th place Sage Hurta-Klecker (2:01.19) and 5th place Charlene Lipsey is positioned to be on the US team. Multiple-time world championship participant Ajee Wilson was 8th in 2:05.88.

Nia Atkins, photo by Kevin Morris

USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships held at Hayward Field, University of Oregon, July 6-10, 2023.

m800m: The men’s 800 final was a turbulent affair, with crowded bumping disturbing the finalists. As anticipated, Isaiah Jewett raced out to an early lead and led the athletes through the first 400m in 51.84. Jewett kept the heat on as Bryce Hoppel, Clayton Murphy, and Isaiah Harris stayed in close pursuit. On the home stretch, Jewett began to slow. Sensing the opportunity, the chasing trio slid by a withering Jewett to earn the three tickets for Budapest, with Hoppel (1:46.20) getting the win, followed by Harris (1:46.68) and Murphy (1:46.82).

Bryce Hoppell, Isaiah Harris, USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships held at Hayward Field, University of Oregon, July 6-10, 2023, photo by Kevin Morris

w400H: Shamir Little ran a perfect race and was the surprise victor in the women’s 400-meter hurdles final. Pre-race favorites Dalilah Mohammed and Anna Cockrell battled coming into the final straight. But Little, a 2015 400m hurdles medalist, had the superior lift down the homestretch and captured the win in a season’s best of 53.24 while Mohammed (53.53 SB) grabbed 2nd and Cockrell (54.24 SB) hung on for 3rd.

Shamier Little, USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships held at Hayward Field, University of Oregon, July 6-10, 2023, photo by Kevin Morris.

m400H: Rai Benjamin, who quietly played possum during the men’s 400 hurdles opening rounds, let it all out on Sunday’s final. Benjamin, who is #2 on the world’s all-time list in this event, dominated from the gun, ran a clean race at a torrid pace and set a new meet record to finish all alone in a season’s best 46.62. CJ Allen (48.18) got up for 2nd while 2022 world championship bronze medalist Trevor Bassitt captured 3rd. The trio will represent the USA in Budapest.

Rai Benjamin, USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships held at Hayward Field, University of Oregon, July 6-10, 2023, photo by Kevin Morris

m5000m: The dynamics of this final changedwhen Grant Fisher was forced to DNS with a stress fracture. 23 athletes responded to the opening gun as Conner Mantz, Emmanuel Bor, and Paul Chelimo joined Isai Rodriguez up front to set the early-race tempo. The pace was measured as the pack hit one kilo in 2:39 and 2K in 5:23. The race pace accelerated as the athletes passed 4 kilos at 11:00. Shortly thereafter, Abdihamid Nur pushed into the lead as the race pace quickened. Responding quickly, Sean McGorty and Chelimo gave chase. But Nur, racing the next-to-final lap in 59 seconds, was not to be denied. Nur’s final lap was covered in 53.6 as he sailed on for the win in 13:24.37. Next was Chelimo, authoring a final lap in 53.5 to finish 2nd in 13:24.90. McGorty, lacking the standard, grabbed 3rd in 13:25.98. Fourth place finisher Joe Klecker, who has the standard, finished in 13:26.94.

Abdi Nur, USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships held at Hayward Field, University of Oregon, July 6-10, 2023, photo by Kevin Morris

w200m: With Abby Steiner, Sha’Carri Richardson, Gabby Thomas, and Jenna Prandini in the field, this sprint final showcased a star-studded cast of athletes. Running out of lane 8 and unable to spot most of her competitors, Thomas roared around the curve and headed into the home stretch with the lead. The former Harvard athlete’s margin only grew as she raced all the way to the finish line. Gabby’s winning time of 21.60 is a personal best, set a new meet record, and is the fastest time in the world this year. Richardson (21.94) and Kayla White (22.01) ran personal bests, have the standards, and finished 2nd and 3rd, respectively. High school phenom Mia Brane-Pederson finished 8th in 22.65 and completed her “high school sprint double.”

Gabby Thomas, USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships held at Hayward Field, University of Oregon, July 6-10, 2023, photo by Kevin Morris

m200m: Youth was served in the men’s 200m final as Erriyon Knighton exploded out of the blocks, raced an efficient curve, and shook off all others on the homestretch to cross the line for an impressive win in a season’s best of 19.72. Kenny Bednarek (19.82) got up for 2nd, followed by Texas Tech’s Courtney Lindsey in 3rd with a personal best of 19.85. How deep was this talented field? Christian Coleman ran 19.95 – and was 6th!

Erriyon Knighton, USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships held at Hayward Field, University of Oregon, July 6-10, 2023, photo by Kevin Morris

w5000m: 24 athletes toed the line for the 5000m final. Alicia Monson jumped up to take the early lead, drawing the pack through the first kilo in 3:05 and the 2nd K in 6:03. Monson was still upfront when the bunched pack went by 3K in 9:00. As the serious running was about to get underway, Monson was joined by Natosha Rogers and Elise Cranny who stayed in close contact with the early leader. The front-running trio was still intact when they reached the bell. But with 300 meters remaining, Cranny, itching to go, took off. The 10,000m champion had a sizeable lead in no time. Cranny kept on driving as she was striving to finish with a standard. With her eye on the clock, she just made it in under the wire, clocking 14:52.66. Monson (14:55.10) held on for 2nd with Rogers 3rd in 14:55.39.

Elise Cranny, USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships held at Hayward Field, University of Oregon, July 6-10, 2023, photo by Kevin Morris

m110H: The final 2023 USATF Outdoor Track & Field Championships event was the men’s 110m hurdles. Grant Holloway, the reigning world champion in this event, had competed in the earlier rounds, has an automatic entry into the Budapest world championships, and was elected to DNS in this final. In Holloway’s absence, the final race victor was Daniel Roberts (13:05), closely followed by hurdle upstart Cordell Tinch (13.08) and Freddie Crittenden (13.23). Trey Cunningham finished 5th in 13.29. Devon Allen dropped out of the competition after sustaining a serious ankle injury in the opening round.  / Dave Hunter /

The 110m hurdle team, Cordell Tinch, Daniel Robert, Freddie Crittenden, USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships held at Hayward Field, University of Oregon, July 6-10, 2023, photo by Kevin Morris

Trackside Tidbits

mHJ: Puma athlete Juvaughn Harrison (2.26m/7’5″) won this event with a clean card and only three attempts. 2nd was Shelby McEwen (SB 2:./7’5″). 3rd was Vernon Turner (2,21m/7’3″)

wLJ: In a close battle, an exuberant Tara Davis-Woodall was the winner of the women’s long jump with a top mark of 6.87m/22’6 1/2″. Quanesha Burks (6.82m/22’4 1/2) finished second, and Jasmine Moore (6.74m/22′ 1 1/2)

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Written by Dave Hunter

Category: Track

Published: 21 June 2023

Lady Longhorns: Deep And Talented

Texas leads, NCAA Champs, photo by How Lao photography

Austin, Texas

June 8th, 2023

The battle for the team title is one facet of the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships that makes this 4-day competition so exciting and enjoyable. Instead of focusing on strictly individual performance, the collegiate athletes of the various universities work as one with their teammates: performing at their best, encouraging and cheering on their teammates, and even stepping up to undertake additional events in the quest to capture the coveted team trophy.

Read more: NCAA Day Two: Texas Women Are In A Class All Their Own

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Written by Dave Hunter

Category: Track

Published: 19 June 2023

Stanford’s Robinson and Hicks Author 1-2 10k Sweep!

by Dave Hunter

Charles Hicks and Ky Robinson go 1,2 at NCAA 10,000m, June 7, 2023, photo by How Lao Photography

Read more: 2023 NCAA T&F Champs, Day One : A Cardinal Act!

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Written by Dave Hunter

Category: Cross Country

Published: 03 December 2022

NC State's Kaitlyn Tuohy Captures NCAA Div I XC Crown (Kirby Lee / Image Of Sport) 
Wolfpack Leader: Talented, Resilient, And Poised

November 19, 2022
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, Oklahoma

Everyone knows that Katelyn Tuohy is talented. The New Yorker was a 3-time Nike Cross National Champion and basically rewrote the USA prep record book.

But Tuohy is not one-dimensional. Now in her sophomore year at NC State, this emerging collegiate star is more than simply a phenomenal athlete. She is a leader who has helped galvanize an entire squad of accomplished athletes who, in their own right, have helped Tuohy label the Wolfpack women as a distance running powerhouse.

Read more: 2022 NCAA Div I XC: Katelyn Tuohy

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Written by Dave Hunter

Category: Cross Country

Published: 29 November 2022

NC State Teammates Celebrate Successful Defense Of Their Team Victory 

 (Kirby Lee / Image Of Sport) 

Wolfpack Successfully Defends; Tuohy Individual Titleist

November 19, 2022
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, Oklahoma

As the cross-country season was winding down, NC State Cross Country Coach Laurie Henes and her athletes were quietly building confidence and managing stress. They arrived at Stillwater with the unannounced goal of successfully defending their team title while creating an opportunity for their star athlete Katelyn Tuohy to win the individual crown.

Read more: NCAA Div XC: NC State Women Run The Table

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Written by Dave Hunter

Category: Event Coverage

Published: 04 September 2022

World Championship Flashback!  

Amusan’s w100H double: 12.12 and 12:06w ; Mondo: 6.21 WR;

USA men 4×4: 2:56.17; USA women 4×4: 3:17.79 and More!

July 24th, 2022

On the final day of these 2022 World Athletics Championships, an array of great performances took place on the track and on the field. It was a closing day of redemption for some, unexpected record-breaking for others, and the fulfillment of lifetime dreams for several.

Tobi Amusan destroys 100m hurdle WR, World Athletics Championships
Eugene, Oregon, USA
July 15-26 2022, photo by Kevin Morris

Read more: Oregon22 World Athletics Champs:  Day Ten: Kaleidoscope Of Golden Performances Cap World...

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Written by Dave Hunter

Category: Event Coverage

Published: 02 September 2022

World Championships Flashback!

USA Wins W4x100m relay in biggest upset of Champs! World Athletics Championships Eugene, Oregon, USA July15-26, 2022, photo by Kevin Morris

July 23, 2022

Track & Field is primarily an individual sport, and often a lonely one, as those dedicated athletes work out, toil, and compete primarily on their own. Ah, but when global championships roll around, the relay events provide the opportunity for these nomadic warriors to bond with their track & field countrymen, whom they normally view as their competitors, and to collaborate with them to achieve a common goal: to compete in a first round, to make a final, to win a medal, maybe even a gold medal. And the fans get caught up in this as well – doing their customary horn-blowing, flag waving, and even engaging in a rhythmic chant of their country’s name – “USA! USA! USA!

Read more: Oregon 22 World Athletics Champs, Day Nine: Relay Madness Reigns!!!!

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Written by Dave Hunter

Category: Event Coverage

Published: 31 August 2022

World Championships Flashback!

Sydney McLaughlin sets new WR of 50.68 in 400m hurdles, World Athletics Championships Eugene, Oregon, USA July 15-26, 2022, photo by Kevin Morris

July 22nd, 2022

These 2022 World Championships have provided exciting competitions on the track and on the field on a daily basis. But many track & field buffs have had this Day Eight circled on their calendars for a while. They have waited for the women’s 400-meter hurdles final. It has been seen as a terrific rematch among the top three Tokyo Olympic medalists: The Netherlands Olympic bronze medalist Femke Bol; USA’s Olympic silver medalist Dalilah Muhammad; and USA’s Olympic gold medalist and world record-holder Sydney McLaughlin. As the Eugene global gathering approached, many sensed that such a final would be a hard-fought, tooth-and-nail battle for the gold medal in these World Championships.

Sydney McLaughlin takes 400m hurdles in 50.68 WR. She has set WR at 400m hurdles 4 times in last year! photo by Kevin Morris

But Sydney McLaughlin saw it differently.

Read more: Oregon 22 World Athletics Champs, Day Eight: McLaughlin’s 50.68 WR is a Magnificent Highlight!

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Written by Dave Hunter

Category: Event Coverage

Published: 28 August 2022

World Championships Flashback:

Jamaican Women & USA Men Put On A Show!

Noah Lyles, Kenny Bednarek, Erriyon Knighton go 1,2,3 for USA Sweep! World Athletics Championships Eugene, Oregon, USA July15-26, 2022, photo by Kevin Morris

July 21st, 2022

The start list for Day Seven may seem lean, but the finals of the women’s 200 meters and men’s 200 meters should more than makeup for it. In the women’s furlong, could the Jamaica women – specifically the trio of Jackson, Fraser-Pryce, and Thompson Herah – pull off yet another sprint sweep? The same Jamaican threesome swept the medals in the women’s 100-meter final, the first such sweep in world championship history. They’re sprinting quite well and just might do it again at 200m. As for the men, this final will feature a long-awaited USA showdown between defending world championship Noah Lyles and 18year-old wunderkind Erriyon Knighton who has the 2022 world-leading mark of 19.49. There are even whispers of a possible USA furlong sweep if Kenny Bednarak – 19.84 in the semis – can deliver.

Read more: Oregon 22 World Athletics Champs, Day Seven: Furlong Fury!

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Written by Dave Hunter

Category: Event Coverage

Published: 26 August 2022

Valarie Allman: 1st U.S. Woman to Win WC Discus Medal

Valarie Allman, W discus, bronze, World Athletics Championships Eugene, Oregon, USA July15-26, 2022, photo by Kevin Morris 

July 20th, 2022

The women’s discus final was held on a sizzling summer afternoon and in front of a partisan Hayward Field crowd. USA discus throw specialist Valarie Allman became the first American woman to win a World Championship discus medal of any color.

With temperatures over 90 degrees and the sun beating down on the shadowless infield, 12 international athletes began the quest for the medals in the women’s discus final.

Read more: Oregon 22 World Athletics Champs, Day Six: Allman Joy!