US Track & Field Olympic Trials – What to Watch Out For! – By Grant Dell, Local Track Fan
This Friday, the top athletes from across the country will converge in Eugene, Oregon, to take a shot at qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics at the end of the summer. Seasoned vets, eager collegiate stars, and even some high school phenoms will compete for the podium, which will score them a transatlantic ticket to compete for the United States at the Paris Games. Below are some events to watch, and how you can follow along!
Women’s 100, Saturday 6/22 @ 10:50pm: Sha’Carri Richardson is back and ready to make her first Olympic team. The defending World Champion is in a good position to win gold for the US, something that hasn’t been done since Gail Devers won two in a row, in 1992 and 1996. Keep a lookout for NCAA Champ McKenzie Long (Ole Miss) and fellow collegiate star Jacious Sears (Tennessee), along with pros Aleia Hobbs and Melissa Jefferson, as they look to earn a spot on the Olympic team.
Men’s 100, Sunday 6/23 @ 10:49pm: The men’s contingent includes the last three World Champions in Christian Coleman, Fred Kerley, and Noah Lyles. All three are ready to go to battle for their right to compete at the Olympics and will face an always-deep field. High schooler Christian Miller will also be in the mix, coming into the trials with one of the fastest times in the world this year.
Women’s 200, Saturday 6/29 @ 8:27pm: Last year’s silver and bronze medalists are back to compete for a spot on the team. Gabby Thomas and Richardson will line up against Long, Abby Steiner, and Brittany Brown. Only three can make the team!
Men’s 200, Saturday, 6/29 @ 9:49pm: The team that swept the podium back in 2022 is back to fight for a chance to represent Team USA. Lyles, Kenny Bednarek, and Erriyon Knighton will face stiff competition from Courtney Lindsey, Kerley, Coleman, and a slew of others looking to make their place in US sprinting history.
Women’s 400, Sunday 6/23 @ 9:58pm: Depending on how well they’ve peaked this season, collegiate athletes look to dominate this event. Three of the top four athletes coming into the trials competed in the NCAA just a few weeks ago. Kaylyn Brown of Arkansas leads the charge. Professional and 400m hurdle specialist, Shamier Little looks to break up the young hopefuls.
Men’s 400, Monday 6/24 @ 9:59pm: The US men finished 4th and 5th at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. This year’s group of men, led by Michael Norman, looks to send a squad that can bring home a medal. Bryce Deadmon, Vernan Norwood, and Quincy Hall round out the top four entering the trials.
Women’s 800, Monday 6/24 @ 10:32pm: Although she has not yet raced this season, Athing Mu is declared and is primed to make a run at defending her Olympic gold from Tokyo. A strong list of pros and collegians look to take the next two spots, and pounce if Mu slips up. Pros Nia Akins and Sage Hurta-Klecker, along with collegians Juliette Whittaker (Stanford) and Michaela Rose (LSU), will be leading the chase.
Men’s 800, Sunday 6/30 @ 7:51pm: This year’s World Indoor Champion, Bryce Hoppel, is set to make his second Olympic team and take a shot at the podium. The other two athletes that will represent Team USA will likely be making their first Olympic teams. Collegians Shane Cohen (Virginia) and Robert Whitmarsh (Texas A&M) could be in the mix.
Women’s 1500, Sunday 6/30 @ 8:09pm: Back from pregnancy and with a shiny new World Indoor title to her name, Elle St. Pierre is set to make her second Olympic team. She will be facing a strong group of competitors with tired legs however, as she is also the favorite in the 5,000 meter race. Nikki Hiltz, Sinclaire Johnson, and Cory McGee will be ready to strike if she falters.
Men’s 1500, Monday 6/24 @ 8:47pm: Yared Nuguse enters as the clear favorite, but the right racing conditions could shake up the podium in this event. Cole Hocker, Hobbs Kessler, and Cooper Teare will be hot on his heels, with a deep contingent of collegiate athletes looking to break into the top three as well.
Women’s 5000, Monday 6/24 @ 10:09pm: As mentioned, St. Pierre comes into this year’s trials as the one to beat. Karissa Schweizer and Elise Cranny could challenge, depending on how their fitness has rounded out. Keep an eye out for college phenom, Parker Valby (Florida), to test herself against the big dogs.
Men’s 5000, Sunday 6/30 @ 7:30pm: North American Record Holder, Grant Fisher, leads the entries going into next week. This race will feature a good mix of veteran athletes and college standouts. Most are doubling in either the 10,000 meter or 1,500 meter, so both of those races could play a major part in this race’s outcome.
Women’s 10,000, Saturday 6/29 @ 9:09pm: No event thus far has this issue: only two women in the US have the Olympic standard. The announcers will have to keep us informed as to how many from the top three make the team. Weini Kelati comes in with the best chance, but we could see collegian, Valby, break onto the team here as well.
Men’s 10,000, Friday 6/21 @10:27pm: Virtually the same suspects that will be running the 5k will be opening up the trials in the 10k. Grant Fisher, North American Record Holder, vs Nico Young, NCAA Record Holder. Woody Kincaid and Paul Chelimo will also likely be in the mix. Conner Mantz is joining them on the track after winning the US Olympic Marathon Trials in February.
Women’s 100 Hurdles, Sunday 6/30 @ 8:00pm: Considered the most challenging team to make, the US has a slew of big names that could round out the three that are going to Paris. Keni Harrison, Nia Ali, Alaysha Johnson, and Tia Jones lead the US this year, but up to ten different women could make up the podium.
Men’s 110 Hurdles, Friday 6/28 @ 10:50pm: Dominant, but not quite as deep as the women, the men look to send a team capable of sweeping the podium. Grant Holloway will be pursuing the last gold medal he needs to complete his collection – an Olympic gold. He will be closely followed by the likes of Daniel Roberts, Cordell Tinch, and Trey Cunningham.
Women’s 400 Hurdles, Sunday 6/30 @ 8:29pm: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is the overwhelming favorite to return to the Olympics and defend her gold medal from Tokyo. Collegiate athlete Jasmine Jones (USC) will likely battle Shamier Little and Anna Cockrell for a spot on the team.
Men’s 400 Hurdles, Sunday 6/30 @ 8:20pm: Rai Benjamin is set to defend his US title before heading to Paris for a shot at gold. Behind him, watch for collegian Caleb Dean (Texas Tech) and pros Trevor Bassitt and CJ Allen to fight for the remaining two spots.
Women’s 3000 Steeplechase, Thursday 6/27 @ 10:18pm: Although the podium won’t see heavy hitters in Emma Coburn and Courtney Frerichs this year, there is no shortage of steeplechase talent eager to represent the US in Paris. Krissy Gear, Courtney Wayment, and Val Constein will surely be in the front looking to replicate Coburn and Frerichs’s past success.
Men’s 3000 Steeplechase, Sunday 6/23 @ 10:07pm: The men’s race is also looking for some new names to occupy the podium, after a few years of essentially a revolving door of athletes. Some names to watch out for are Hillary Bor, Kenneth Rooks, Anthony Rotich, and Mason Ferlic. In a race of immovable barriers and water jumps, anyone could come out on top!
