by Larry Eder
2025 USATF Outdoors, Day 2, August 1, 2025, Six Finals, Six Takeaways!
1. Women’s High Jump-Vashti Cunningham won the sixteenth US
titles!
Vashti Cunningham is the 2016 World Indoor champ in the high jump and the 2018 silver medalist at the World Indoors. In 2021, Vashti cleared 2.02 meters! In 2025, her best was 1.94m.
At the U.S. champs, Vashti cleared 1.85m, 1.88m, and 1.88m on her first attempts. She then took two attempts at 1.91 meters and cleared 1.94 meters on her first attempt.
At 1.97 meters, Vashti Cunningham took two attempts to clear this height. Vashti was pleased, and the crowd erupted. Sanaa Barnes took second, clearing 1.94m PB. In third, Emma Gates equalled her PB of 1.91m. Charity Hufnagel had a subpar day, clearing 1.88m.
Vashti Cunningham should be in the medal hunt (she has made the World Champs standard.
USATF Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Eugene, Oregon, USA
July 31 – August 3, 2025, photo by Kevin Morris
2. Men’s Long Jump, A Spirited competition!
Jeremiah Davis, PUMA, got the event off well, clearing 7.96m on the first attempt. In the second round, Jarrion Lawson leaped 8.12m to take a substantial lead. Jason Smith followed Lawson with an 8.03m, moving into second. In the 4th round, William Williams leaped 8.14m to take the lead! Isaac Grimes followed up in the fifth round, moving from 8.02m (round 3) to 8.10m (round 5), keeping him in third. In round six, Isaac Grimes improved to 8.15m, moving into first, with Williams in second and Lawson in third.
1. Isaac Grimes, 8.15m, 2. William Williams, 8.14m, 3. Jarrion Lawson, PUMA, 8.12m
Eugene, Oregon, USA
July 31 – August 3, 2025, photo by Kevin Morris
3. Heptathlon -it’s the Anna Hall Show!
Anna Hall, adidas, is the class of the field, and looks poised to battle for a medal at the World Champs, perhaps the gold. Anna hurdled 13.12, for 1,106 points, high jumped 1.90m for 1,106 points, threw the shot put 15.02m, for 862 points, and in the 200m, Anna ran 23.56 for 1,023 points, for 4,097 points for day one. Anna won all four events. In the long jump on day 2, Anna leaped 6.32m for 949 points, threw the javelin 47.32m for 808 points, and finished in 2:04.60 for the 800 meters, totalling 6,899 points. On day two, Anna took second in the LJ, and won the JT and 800 meters. Anna won six of seven events.
Taliyah Brooks, ASICS, took the silver in 6,526 points. Allie Jones scored 6,164 points for third.
Eugene, Oregon, USA
July 31 – August 3, 2025, photo by Kevin Morris
4. Decathlon-finally, Kyle Garland wins with a big score!
At six feet, five inches and 225 lbs (1.95m/105 KG), Kyle Garland is healthy and now the number 3 American All-Time and the tenth highest score in World history!
Kyle scored 8,869 points, a PB! Kyle ran 10.44 for 989 points, leaped 7.89m in LJ for 1,033 points, threw the shot 16.95m for 910 points, high jumped 2.14m for 848 points, and ran 49.29 for the 400m, scoring 848 points, for a one-day total of 4,714 points.
On day 2, Kyle Garland, NIKE, opened in 13.78 for the 110m hurdles for 1,003 points, threw the discus 50.93m for 890 points, then pole vaulted for 4.80m for 849 points, threw the javelin for 65.52m for 821 points, and ran 4:54.40 for 592 points, taking a total of 8,869 points. Heath Baldwin, Nike, scored 8,407 points for second, and Harrison Williams, Nike, scored 8,223 points for third.
Eugene, Oregon, USA
July 31 – August 3, 2025, photo by Kevin Morris
5. Women’s 100 meters, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden takes the 100m in the World Leader of 10.65!
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, NIKE, showed her racing savy and continued winning all of her races, with a fine 10.65, her PB and the WL. Kayla White, NIKE, took second in 10.84, a new PB! In third, Aleia Hobbs, adidas took third in 10.92, holding off Twanisha Terry, NIKE, who finished 4th in 10.94. In fifth Tamari Davis, adidas ran 10.97. In sixth, Jacious Sears, NIKE, ran 11.00. Tamara Clark, adidas, ran 11.11 for seventh. Jenna Prandini, PUMA, was 8th in 11.11 and English Gardner was 9th in 11.17.
Eugene, Oregon, USA
July 31 – August 3, 2025, photo by Kevin Morris
6. Men’s 100 meters, Kenny Bednarek wins his first U.S. title!
Kenny Bednarek, NIKE, probably dreamed of this day for years, winning his first title in 9.79, his new PB. Courtney Lindsey, NIKE, was second in his new PB of 9.82! T’Mars McCallum finished third in 9.83, his new PB! Trayvon Bromell, New Balance, ran 9.84, his seasonal best for fourth. Christian Coleman, NIKE, 2019 World Champ, ran 9.86, his seasonal best. Maurice Gleaton, Quicksilver TC, a high schooler, equalled the high school record with his sixth-place finish and time of 9.92, his new PB! Ronnie Baker, adidas, finished 8th in 9.92, his season best. Lawrence Johnson, AthleticsTX, was 9th in 10.13!
A fantastic second day, and some truly exciting field events and sprints!
Eugene, Oregon, USA
July 31 – August 3, 2025, photo by Kevin Morris
