by Deji Ogeyingbo
2025 USATF Outdoors: Anna Hall and Kyle Garland Deliver Career-Defining Wins at USATF Championships
For Anna Hall and Kyle Garland, the USATF Outdoor Championships in Eugene delivered clarity and national titles. The two multi-event stars walked into Hayward Field with history on their minds and left with performances that placed them among the very best in American track and field.
Eugene, Oregon, USA
July 31 – August 3, 2025, photo by Kevin Morris
Hall, 24, scored 6,899 points to win her fourth consecutive national title in the heptathlon. That mark has only been bettered in the United States by Jackie Joyner-Kersee, and Hall has now crossed that barrier three times in her career. Her consistency at the top level is beginning to draw a different kind of attention.
Eugene, Oregon, USA
July 31 – August 3, 2025, photo by Kevin Morris
She took command of the two-day event with wins in five of the seven disciplines. Her 800m time of 2:04.60 closed out the competition and added 1,045 points to her total. Before that, she had already built a commanding lead. She recorded a personal best in the javelin throw with a mark of 47.32m. Her long jump measured 6.32m, earning her another 949 points. Hall began the competition with a measured start in the 100m hurdles, an event where she had fallen and broken her foot at the 2021 Olympic Trials. But there were no missteps this time.
After finishing fifth at the 2024 Paris Olympics this past summer, Hall’s return felt grounded. It has always been about finding her rhythm, and it all fell in line for her in Tokyo.
Eugene, Oregon, USA
July 31 – August 3, 2025, photo by Kevin Morris
“Every heptathlon has its own story,” she said. “This one feels exceptional because I feel like I kind of got my spark back.”
Joyner-Kersee, who has become both a mentor and a fan, was there to greet Hall after her final event. It was not a ceremonial moment. It was personal. Hall has carried the weight of expectation for years, and moments like these show how she is managing it.
Eugene, Oregon, USA
July 31 – August 3, 2025, photo by Kevin Morris
On the men’s side, Kyle Garland produced the kind of performance that many thought he was capable of for years. His score of 8,869 in the decathlon is the third-best in U.S. history and places him tenth all-time in the world. Garland, 25, had never won a national title before. That changed emphatically.
Eugene, Oregon, USA
July 31 – August 3, 2025, photo by Kevin Morris
His campaign began with a personal best of 10.44 in the 100m. He won the long jump with a leap of 7.89m and then threw a personal best of 16.95m in the shot put. He cleared 2.14 meters in the high jump and ran 49.29 in the 400 to end Day 1. The scoreboard read 4,714 points.
Day 2 brought more of the same. Garland won the 110mH with a season-best 13.78, then took the discus with another personal best of 50.93 meters. He cleared 4.80 meters in the pole vault, won the javelin with a throw of 65.52m, and finished the 1500m in 4:54.50. He won six of the ten events. There was no drama. There was focus.(Editor’s note: Kyle is now #3 on U.S. all time, just behind one Dan O’Brien and Ashton Eaton).
Eugene, Oregon, USA
July 31 – August 3, 2025, photo by Kevin Morris
“I think it might set in tomorrow,” Garland said after the final. “It’s incredible. But I mean, at the end of the day, I knew it was coming. So I’m excited to see the training finally pay off.”
The nickname “Freight Train” has followed Garland for a while. At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds (1.95m/104.5 KG), his presence on the track is impossible to miss. What he added in Eugene was control. After failing to finish in the last two major championships, Garland kept his footing this time and showed what happens when everything goes to plan.
Eugene, Oregon, USA
July 31 – August 3, 2025, photo by Kevin Morris
His win was a clear response to previous disappointment. He did not dwell on past exits. He knew he had the strength and training. What he needed was time.
Eugene, Oregon, USA
July 31 – August 3, 2025, photo by Kevin Morris
Behind him, Heath Baldwin finished second with 8,407 points, and Harrison Williams was third at 8,223. Neither could match Garland’s pace. By the time the discussion ended, the outcome felt certain.
Eugene, Oregon, USA
July 31 – August 3, 2025, photo by Kevin Morris
Hall and Garland now head to the World Championships in Tokyo in September. Hall will lead a group that could include up to four Americans, depending on world rankings and final entries. Garland will go in as the top U.S. contender, ready to test himself against the best in the world.
For both athletes, the road to Tokyo is no longer a question of qualification. It is a question of execution. In Eugene, they showed they can deliver on the most significant domestic stage. Next month, they’ll try to do it again on a global scale.
photos: Kevin J. Morris
Kevin Morris travels the world to take great photos in road racing, track and field and yes, cross country. #RunBlogRun has been fortunate to work with Kevin for many years.
Deji Ogeyingbo is RunBlogRun’s senior writer for African Athletics. Studying at Georgia State for his Masters degree, Deji is a total track and field fanatic. We are very happy to work with Deji.
