Saturday marked a significant day at the U.S. Track & Field Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, with eight finals taking place, including the highly anticipated 200-meter final. Gabby Thomas and Noah Lyles emerged victorious in their respective 200-meter finals, securing their spots for the Paris Olympics.
Gabby Thomas delivered an outstanding performance in the women’s 200-meter final, clocking a world-leading time of 21.81 seconds. Running out of lane eight, Thomas led around the turn and maintained her lead to finish first, about two strides ahead of the competition. Brittany Brown finished second with a time of 21.90 seconds, and NCAA champion McKenzie Long came in third at 21.91 seconds. Sha’Carri Richardson, who had previously won the 100 meters at the trials, finished fourth with a time of 22.16 seconds.
Noah Lyles showcased his exceptional speed and determination in the men’s 200-meter final. Initially trailing Kenny Bednarek as they came around the turn, Lyles found another gear and surged ahead to finish first with a meet record and world-leading time of 19.53 seconds. Bednarek finished second at 19.59 seconds, while Erriyon Knighton rounded out the top three with a season-best time of 19.77 seconds. This victory capped off a successful trials for Lyles, who also won gold in the 100 meters.
In other events, Chase Jackson won the women’s shot put with a season-best throw of 65 feet, 11 ½ inches. Raven Saunders captured the silver medal with a mark of 65 feet, 3 ½ inches, and Oregon’s Jaida Ross secured the final Olympic spot with a throw of 64 feet, 3 ¾ inches.
Weini Kelati triumphed in the women’s 10,000 meters, taking the lead in the final lap and finishing with a time of 31:41.07. Florida’s Parker Valby placed second with a time of 31:41.56, and Karissa Schweizer came in third, also clocking 31:41.56.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone cruised through the women’s 400-meter hurdles semifinal round, winning her heat by nearly two seconds with a time of 52.48 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year. Dalilah Muhammad, the former world-record holder and Olympic gold medalist, finished second in her heat with a time of 54.16 seconds. Both runners qualified for Sunday’s final.
The trials also saw impressive performances in the women’s 100-meter hurdles semifinals, with Alaysha Johnson, Tonea Marshall, and Masai Russell all running 12.36 seconds in their respective heats. Johnson was named the winner after a review, and all three athletes have the top qualifying times entering Sunday’s final.
Grant Holloway made a statement in the men’s 110-meter hurdles, leading from the start and finishing with a world-leading time of 12.86 seconds. This race marked the first time in history that a single 110-meter hurdles race had three sub-13 second finishers.
As the Olympic trials come to a close, fans can look forward to more exciting finals, including the women’s 200 meters featuring Gabby Thomas, Sha’Carri Richardson, and McKenzie Long. Thomas, the defending Olympic bronze medalist in the 200 meters, clocked the fastest 200 time in the world this year to win her semifinal heat, setting up a thrilling showdown in the final.
Lolo Jones, at 41 years old, also made headlines by advancing to the semifinals of the women’s 100-meter hurdles despite finishing last in her heat. Due to a high number of scratches, all competitors in the heats advanced, allowing Jones to compete again in the semifinals.
The final weekend of the Olympic trials promises to be filled with more memorable moments and outstanding performances as athletes vie for their spots on the U.S. Olympic team heading to Paris.
Source: USA TODAY Sports
