The first day of the 2019 Toyota USATF Championships, was held in Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa. The championships go June 25 to June 28, 2019. The first day was about the 100 meters, while the 100m were revelatory, with Coleman, Gatlin, Rodgers and Baker being the usual suspects.
On the women's side, the 100m was a bit confusing. She'Carri Richardson, (2nd, 11.41), Morolake Akinson, (11.35), Jenna Pradini, (11.41), with English Gardner (11.28), Alei Hobbs (11.41) and Candace Hill (11.51).
Molly Huddle, photo by PhotoRun.net
The women's 10,000 was a real game of chess. Molly Huddle won her 5th title at the 10,000m in 31:58.47, Emily Sisson, 32:02.19, with Kellyn Taylor in third, 32:02.74, and Stephanie Bruce Rothstein was 4th, 32:09.99, with fifth, Marielle Hall, 32:14.41. While Molly Huddle and Emily Sisson had WC qualifiers, with Marielle Hall getting the final WC position (due to qualifier).
Emily Sisson, Marielle Hall, Molly Huddle, Kellyn Taylor, photo by PhotoRun.net
Our key observer, Joe Mangan had this to say about the women's 10,000m: "Veteran like effort by Huddle. Taylor's nice effort for marathonrer/ road race for third. They would have hit iaaf standard with a quickerr initial 3k pace."
Lopez Lomong takes the 10,000m in 27:30.06, photo by PhotoRun.net
On the men's side, Lopez Lomong won his 2nd 10,000m in 27:30.06, a fifty second PB! Shadrack Kipchirchir took second in 27:47.71. Leonard Korir took 3rd in 28:01.18.
Lopez Lomong takes the 10,000m, photo by PhotoRun.net
Joe Mangan, our key observer, noted on the 10,000m: "Lopez, Lopez, Lopez. Kudos to Ben Bruce, seventeenth National championships. Great PR races by few in the chase pack. Special mention to the drum line for providing the the rhythm throughout both races." rrrrr
The second day is upon us!
Historic titles won on first day of 2019 Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships
DES MOINES, Iowa -- The first day of competition at the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships crowned three champions on what was a cool, damp late-July day at Drake's Blue Oval.
Fans can watch on demand coverage on NBC Sports Gold, and find full results here. Live coverage of day two begins on NBC Sports Gold at 1:25pm ET and NBC from 4:00pm to 6:00pm ET.
Orji wins historic fourth straight USATF Outdoors triple jump
Field event finals kicked off with 2018 Bowerman Athlete of the Year Keturah Orji, who became the first athlete ever to win four straight USATF Outdoor women's triple jump titles, soaring 47-9.25 to beat American record holder Tori Franklin for the second straight year. Franklin jumped a season best 47-1.5.
Fifth title for Huddle
Molly Huddle secured her fifth USATF Outdoors title in the women's 10,000m with a riveting performance. The American record holder maintained position and won with distance to spare ahead of second place's Emily Sisson in 31:58.47.
Lomong blazes the Blue Oval
Lopez Lomong defended his USATF title in the men's 10,000m setting a Drake Stadium record of 27:30.05, a new personal best and the fastest time by an American this year. As the field dropped, Lomong battled Shadrack Kipchirchir through about 22 laps until Lomong turned on the afterburners. He cranked out 55.59 final 400m to beat Kipchirchir by more than 17-seconds.
First rounders
Men's Discus champion Sam Mattis threw a season's best 66.69m/218-9 on his very first attempt, which stood as the competition's best by the end. Brian Williams also had his farthest throw on his first round attempt tossing the disk 65-76m/215-9 for second place.
Ince Ince Ince Ince
Ariana Ince won the title with 61.06m/200-4 effort while Kara Winger was second at 59.73m/195-11. American record holder Winger entered Thursday's women's javelin competition with eight national titles including back-to-back crowns in 2017 and 2018 but was unable to overtake Ince huge come from behind victory.
Nevertheless, Winger did achieve her 12th straight podium appearance, which includes placing second in 2012, along with finishing third in 2013 and 2016.
Flowers for Gabe Grunewald
In a special tribute, USATF honored runner Gabe Grunewald in the Nike Women's 1500m first heat by reserving Lane 1 with flowers at the start. The cancer advocate and Brave Like Gabe Foundation founder lost her battle with cancer earlier this year.
Round and round they go
Back on the track, Allyson Felix made a determined return to competition after giving birth to her first child, daughter Camryn, last year. Running in Heat 1 against young up-and-comer Lynna Irby, the decorated Olympian ran an impressive first round Xfinity Women's 400m in 52.20, clinching fourth place in her heat and qualifying for the semifinals. Irby won the heat in 51.14.
Hundred standards
14 of 16 women and 10 of 16 men that qualified out of the first round have already claimed the World Championships Qualifying standard. Isiah Young clocked the fastest overall time in the Nike Men's 100m in 10.14 out leaning 2017 World Champion Justin Gatlin in 10.16. Michael Rodgers (10.24), Chris Belcher (10.25) and Ronnie Baker (10.26) rounded out the top-five finishers in the first round.
In the Michelob ULTRA Women's 100m first round, Dezerea Bryant ran 11.25 seconds to win heat 4 with the fastest qualifying time. English Gardner, who has battled a number of injuries, clocked the second fastest time finishing second to Bryant in 11.28. Sha'Carri Richardson ran 11.41 seconds to clinch second in her heat and tied for seventh in qualifying. The LSU rising sophomore won the NCAA title last month in 10.75 seconds, the fastest time in NCAA history and breaking a 30-year-old record of 10.78.
Streaks continued
Michael Norman, the world leader in the Toyota Men's 400m, earned his 15th straight victory in the 400 winning the fourth heat of first-round qualifying. His last loss was in 2017.
Kansas junior Bryce Hoppel notched his 21st straight win in the Michelob Ultra Men's 800m clipping in the fourth heat of first round qualifying. Hoppel, who swept the 2019 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor 800 titles, clipped Brannon Kidder at the wire winning 1:47.65 to 1:47.68
Day two of competition begins at 12:30 p.m. CT with the Men's Decathlon 110m hurdles. Watch live on NBC Sports Gold.
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