2025 USATF Outdoor, Day 1 Report: Seven Finals, Seven Takeaways from Eugene!

2025 USATF Outdoors, Five Takeaways on Day 1

1. Men’s Javelin-Curtis Thompson impresses

Curtis Thompson, Tracksmith/NYAC, takes the win with 4/6 throws over 80 meters, winning in 83.99m from his fourth throw. Curtis has a world champs standard, so that he will represent the US in the men’s division. Dash Simon was second in 77.28m, and March Anthony Minichello was 3rd in 76.81m.

Curtis Thompson has been the leading thrower in the US for years, and he continues to hone his craft. A really fascinating thrower to watch. Take the time to build an appreciation for the javelin, one of our sports’ most iconic events, dating back to the ancient Olympics!

2. Women’s hammer throw—DeAnna Price Dominates 

DeAnna Price, NIKE/NYAC, is the top American women’s hammer thrower. DeAnna was the 2019 World Champion gold medalist and the bronze medalist in 2023 in Budapest. On Thursday, DeAnna Price could have won on five of her six throws. Her best was her sixth. Starting at 78.33m, DeAnna bounced from 74.74m to 78.53 m, her final throw. She should be in the medal fight. In second, Brooke Anderson, Nike, took second on her third attempt, a throw of 75.14m. Brooke is the 2022 gold medalist; she should be in the medal fight. Rachel Richeson was third in 74.57m. Rachel should be competitive, and this is her first World Champs. The women’s hammer is a strong medal event for the U.S.

3. Women’s javelin-Evie Bliss adds to her accolades

The women’s javelin is an iconic event in the U.S. Evie Bliss, Bucknell, looks intent on adding to a rich history that goes back to the great Babe Didrickson (1932-1936). Evie Bliss is developing into a world-class javelin thrower. Evie was third in the World U20 Champs, throwing 54.01m on 30 August 2024. In July 2025 (on the 26th), Evie Bliss was a silver medalist in the World University Games! Evie also won silver at the Pan Am U20 in August 2023 and was first in the USA Juniors in 2023 with a 51.79.

On her third attempt, Evie Bliss threw 57.77m, and came back with a 57.53m as well in 4th attempt. Madison Wiltrout was second on her last effort, with 56.46m! In third, Sarah Blake took third on her fifth attempt, in 55.80m.

4. Men’s Hammer, it is Rudy’s World, we live in it!

Rudy Winkler is our finest hammer thrower. The tradition of hammer throwing in the U.S. dates back to a group of Irish athletes who immigrated to the U.S. in the late 19th century. They had an affinity for the hammer, and they passed it on to others. The U.S. had a great history of success in the hammer throw, but it then declined. Due to the efforts of some very hard-working coaches and athletes across the U.S., it was brought back to prominence. Lance Deal won the Olympic silver medal in 1996.

Rudy has been 7th in the 2021 Olympics and 6th in the 2024 Olympics. At the World Championships, Rudy was sixth in 2022 and 8th in Budapest.

On the Global Stage, the hammer is a huge event, with great throwers from Poland, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and many of the former Soviet republics.

Rudy won with a massive 81.47m throw on his second attempt. Rudh threw over 80 meters four times during the competition on 31 July. Trey Knight threw 78.76m for second place, and Daniel Haugh took 3rd, throwing 77.28m on his 4th attempt.

US hammer throwers all meet the World Championship standard, so all three will qualify!

5. Women’s long jump-Speaking of clutch performances, Tara Davis Woodhall wrote the book!

Tara Davis-Woodhall had two fouls at the beginning of the long jump, with Jasmine Moore, PUMA, leading with an opening 6.81m, and then, a 6.82m. Claire Bryant,adidas, the World Indoor Champ from Nanjing 2025, opened at 6.77m, then, in attempt 3, just after Tara Darvis put herself on the board, with a leading 6.92m, Claire leaped 6.97m, and game was on.

Tara Davis-Woodhall, NIKE, was just warming up. Now, that she had a legal jump, the battle was on! In attempt 4, Tara went 7.11 meters, and the party was looking pretty one-sided. In the fifth attempt, Tara Davis-Woodhall leaped 7.12 meters and that was all she wrote.

Claire Bryant was second in 6.97m, eternally grateful to competing and enjoying the competition. Quanisha Burkes, FP Movement, leaped 6.90m in 5th round and moved into third, pushing Jasmine Moore, the long jump and triple jump medalist in Paris 2024 into 4th. Alyssa Jones, Stanford, in the sixth attempt, leaped 6.90m, to move into fourth. The top seven all had World Champs standard. The US will take 3 women long jumpers. Jasmine Moore ended in fifth place, a pretty substantial upset, but the truth is, dear readers, that the Women’s LJ has a plethora of talent in the US.

6. The Women’s 10,0000m-when a 2015 bronze WC medalist wins her first National title.

The pace was modest, 16:14 for the first 5,000m, but the 15:30 last 5,000m broke the race up. In the end, Elise Cranny, Taylor Roe, Weini Kelati, and Emily Infeld. NCAA champion (1986) Tim Hacker, a keen observer of the sport, later told me that when he saw Emily Infeld cover all the moves in the last four laps, he thought she could win. Emily Infeld/Brooks outkicked Elise Cranny,NIKE, for first with Cranny second, and Taylor Roe, grimacing as she sprinted, went by Weini Kelati, Under Armour, and took third, with Weini Kelati in fourth.

1. Emily Infeld, Brooks, 31:43.56, 2. Elise Cranny, NIKE Swoosh TC, 31:44.24, 3.Taylor Roe, PUMA/Puma Elite Running, 31;45.41, 4. Weini Kelati, Under Armour/Dark Sky Distance, 31:46.37, 5. Jessica McClain, Brooks, 32:02.84, 6. Karissa Schweizer, NIKE Swoosh TC, 31:10.82

7. Men’s 10,000m-a sub 4 minute last mile determines the 10,000m team

The 10,000m is 25 laps. It is a moving chess game. The day prior to the meet, I said hello to Nico Young, and wished him good luck in the 25 lapper. One of his team noted that, 25 laps sounded ominous, and I noted as Nico smiled that is a “moving chess game” and wished Nico good luck.

Grant Fisher is the man to beat in U.S. distance running. In 2024, Grant won bronze medals in the Olympic 5,000 meters and Olympic 10,000 meters, a rareified series of medals that has put him in the media eyes. Nico Young, the new AR holder at 5,000 meters, from Oslo in June 12 2025, where Nico ran 12:45.27 was a favorite. Graham Blanks has PBs of 12:48.20 for 5,000m and 26:57:30 for 10,000m, both in 2025. Please note that, as a cross country specialist, Graham’s focus in 2025 has given him huge PBs at 1,500m, 3,000m, 5,000m and 10,000m, although his 2 mile PB is from six years ago, (9:11.75).

In the 10,000m, a big pack hit a pedestrian 15:00 for the 5,000m. The next 5,000m was run in 14:02, with the final mile, orchestrated by Graham Blanks/New Balance, , Nico Young, adidas and Grant Fisher/NIKE, in 3:56! Nico and Grant broke away on the last lap, with Graham close behind. Nico Young, adidas, held off a final drive by Grant Fisher/NIKE Swoosh TC, 29:02.12-29:02.37.

Great interview with Graham Blanks post race. His thoughtfulness amazed me right after a 25 lapper, as sometimes the athletes need a few minutes to speak again! All thre have the standard, so US will be going with a full team to Tokyo!

1. Nico Young, adidas, 29:02.12, 2. Grant Fisher, NIKE Swoosh TC, 29:02.37, 3. Graham Blanks, New Balance, 29:03.66, 4. Ahmed Muhamed, HOKA NAZ Elite, 29:11.89, 5. James Mwaura, 29:16.70, 6. Casey Clinger, 29:18.74, Brooks

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