USATF / Day Three: Glorious Performances: McLaughlin’s 51.41 WR Highlights Amazing Day 

USATF / Day Three: Glorious Performances

McLaughlin’s 51.41 WR Highlights Amazing Day 

Eugene, Oregon

University of Oregon / Hayward Field

June 25^th, 2022

On a sun-drenched, cloudless day presenting accommodating conditions to run, jump, or throw, America’s most accomplished athletic performers delivered a cornucopia of outstanding performances on the track and on the field.

The most stunning event on this special day was provided by Sydney McLaughlin and her world-record performance in the final of the women’s 400m hurdles.  While her victory was widely anticipated, breaking her own world record really had not been given wide consideration.   As the reigning Olympic champion crossed the line, the Hayward Field crowd roared as her time – 51.41 – was displayed on the board.  Her clocking today is a 5-second improvement on the global best she set at the Tokyo Games. 

But McLaughlin’s new global best was not the sole cause for excitement.  Here are some of the other happenings that the Hayward Field fans savored.

w1500m:  The final of the women’s 1500 meters began at a snail’s pace as New Balance athlete Cory McGee zipped to the front and slammed on the brakes.  Shortly after the bunched finalists passed 400 meters in dawdling 73.2, Elle St. Pierre moved into the lead, picked up the pace, and was soon joined by Karissa Schweizer, Sinclaire Johnson, and McGee. With 650 meters to go, the tempo surged again as the trio stepped on the gas.  At the bell, it was Johnson up front and in control.  On the final backstretch, Johnson deflected McGee’s push to the front as she began her kick to sail on for the win in 4:03.29.  McGee (4:04.52) crossed next with fast-finishing St. Pierre (4:05.14) rallying to snag 3^rd.  

m1500m: The final was a tactical affair with the bunched pack crossing 400 meters in 65 seconds with Nike athlete Cooper Teare up front.  The pace remained lackadaisical through 800 meters in 2:08.4 with Eric Holt and Yared Nuguse joining Teare near the front.  At the bell (2:53) former Oregon athlete Sam Prakel set sail, picked up the pace, and the race was on.  Teare had the best finish, covering the final 300 meters in 37.98 for the win and crossing the line in a slow 3:45.86.  As a result, the world championship berths would go to the athletes possessing the standard (3:35.00) and finishing the highest in this final:  Teare; 6^th place finisher Johnny Gregorek (3:46.36), and Nuguse (11^th in 3:47.46).  

m3000mSC: The unanswered questions leading up to the final of the men’s steeplechase were these:  Has Evan Jager resolved his lingering injuries?  Is he fit?  In the final, could Jager finish in the top three while racing fast enough to capture a world championship qualifying mark of 8:22.00?  Today we learned that the answers were: Yes, Yes, and Yes.  As the race unfolded, Jager stayed close to the front, nearly always in the top 5 bunchings, while Hillary Bor, Brian Barraza, and others set the pace.  The race shifted gears with 3 laps to go and really got rolling when Jager, the 2016 Olympic silver medalist in this event, moved into the lead with about 2 laps remaining.  Over the final furlong, Bor proved to have the stronger finish, grabbing the win in 8:17.29.  Meanwhile, Jager reached down deep on the final straightaway, pumping hard, watching the clock, and ultimately crossing the line in 8:17:29  Mission Accomplished.  Jager, a bronze medalist at the 2017 World Championships in London, will be representing the USA on home soil next month here in Eugene.

w400m:  Florida athlete Talitha Diggs, who won the NCAA title on this track two weeks ago, looked strong throughout and had the push down the home stretch to win the women’s 400 meters final in 50.22. Kendall Ellis (50.35) grabbed 2^nd while Lynna Irby (50.67) got up for 3^rd.  In what would be her final national championship race, track & field legend Allyson Felix finished 6^th in 51.24 as the Hayward Field contingent rained the 5-time Olympian with applause.

m400m: Michael Norman, who had looked unbeatable in the rounds, delivered in the final clocking in at 43.56 to improve on his earlier world-leading mark and to set a new Hayward Field record.  Florida’s Champion Allison was not the champion, but he was surprised by getting up for 2^nd with a personal best of 43.70 while Randolph Ross, who won the NCAA 400m crown on this track just two weeks ago, grabbed 3^rd in 44.17.  

wJT:  Javelin athlete and multiple-time Olympian Kara Winger on her farewell tour made one final appearance in the USA nationals to compete in the javelin.  On her final attempt, she unleashed a scud missile, sailing the spear out 64.26m/210’10”. That mark not only secured her victory but also exceeded the world championship qualifying mark of 64 meters giving her the credential she lacked to compete in the world championships here next month.   She’ll be back.

w100H:  In the women’s 100-meter hurdle final, world record holder Keni Harrison maintained her poise and in a close race captured yet another national championship title, crossing the line in 12.34.  Alaysha Johnson pushed Harrison hard in the final strides and grabbed 2^nd in 12.35 while Alia Armstrong got up for 3^rd in 12.47.  Nia Ali, the 2019 world champion in this event who already holds an automatic entry to next month’s world championships, elected not to compete in the final. 

mPV:In the final, Nike athlete and former NCAA champion Chris Nilsen earned the national championship title and qualified for the world championships with a best clearance of 5.70m/18’8¼”.   Andrew Irwin finished 3^rd with a best height of 5.60m/18’4½” earning a WC entry.  Runner-up Luke Winder (5.70m/18’8¼”) lacked the standard and the final WC entry will go to 4^th place finisher Jacob Wooten (5.60m/18’4½”).   

mHT:  In the men’s hammer, the three athletes qualifying for the world championships are surprise winner Daniel Haugh who threw a personal best of 80.18m/263’1”, hammer favorite Rudy Winkler who finished 2^nd with a best mark of 78.83m/237’0”, and 6^th place finisher Sean Donnelly who posted the best mark of 74.24/243’7”. 

wTJ:  The women’s triple jump featured a showdown between two accomplished rivals: Mizuno athlete Keturah Orji and former Michigan State star Tori Franklin.  Orji prevailed today finishing 1^st with a best mark of 14.79m/48’6¼” to edge Franklin who jumped 14.59m/47’10½” for 2^nd.  Florida’s Jasmine Moore grabbed the final World Championship berth with the best hop, skip, and jump of 14.15m/46’5¼”.    

Trackside Tidbits

• The highlight of Day Two had to be the jaw-dropping shot put series assembled by two-time Olympic champion and world record holder Ryan Crouser.  His winning throw of 23.11m/75’10” was nestled among a slew of great throws in his series.  His series [22.42m/72’6¼; F; 23.12m/75’10¼”;  23.01m/75’6”; 23.11m/75’10”; 22.98m/75’4¼] included three throws of 23 meters, a feat never before achieved by anyone.  “You’ve just witnessed the greatest 6-throw series ever in the world,” proclaimed veteran announcer Mike Jay.