5 Minute Recap: U.S. Trials Day 4 – Mu Out, Hocker Over Nuguse, St. Pierre Over Cranny, Holloway 12.92

Below we have a quick recap of all the action from Day 4 of the US Olympic Track and Field Trials.

The big news was defending Olympic champion Athing Mu falling early in the 800 and never being able to recover, as Nia Akins became the first US Olympian for the Brooks Beasts.

Cole Hocker won the showdown with Yared Nuguse and Elle St. Pierre edged Elise Cranny in the 5000m.

Women’s 800: Athing Mu Falls as Nia Akins Wins

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In an absolute stunner, Nia Akins won the U.S. title running a personal best of 1:57.36 to win by almost a full second, after Athing Mu fell 200m into the race and was unable to recover. Akins made a hard move with 250 to go that no one was able to match. In the final 100, it was Allie Wilson and Juliette Whittaker who were able to pass Michaela Rose to take the second and third spots. 

(Longer article with analysis, reaction on 800 here)

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Men’s 1500: The Big 3: Hocker, Nuguse, Kessler 

In one of the most anticipated events of the 2024 US Olympic Track and Field Trials, Cole Hocker used a 52.63 last lap to capture the 1500 in a new Olympics Trials record and PB of 3:30.59. Yared Nugsue who did all of the leading until the last 250 ended up second in 3:30.86 as US U-20 record holder Hobbs Kessler ended up third with a 3:31.53 pb. Under Armour/Dark Sky’s Vincent Ciattei was a surprise fourth in a PB of 3:31.78 as placed 3-8 all ran PBs thanks to Nuguse leading through 1250. Read our longer recap with analysis here. 

Womens 5k: Elle St. Pierre wins All-Time Classic

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In a race that was not decided to the line, Elle St. Pierre emerged victorious over Elise Cranny by .02 running 14:40.34 to Cranny’s 14:40.36 to set a new meet record. Karissa Schweizer finished third at 14:45.12 to take the last spot. Parker Valby did all the leading until 800 to go when she was passed by the top three. Elle St. Pierre took the pace and would never look back, dropping Karissa Schweizer with 200 to go and narrowly beating Elise Cranny in a footrace of the final 100 m. (Longer recap on 5000 here)

Men’s 400: Quincy Hall Takes U.S Title 

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In the final strides, Quincy Hall was able to emerge as the U.S champion running 44.17 for a new PB. The first 200 was Michael Norman who paced the field through in 20.90 and was still in the lead as they rounded the bend but faded the final 100 and allowed Hall to pass on the outside. Norman would hold on for second and run 44.41 to book his ticket to Paris. The third spot was taken by Chris Bailey (who does not have a shoe sponsor and runs for Tracksmith) who passed two runners in the final 100 to run 44.42 and take the final spot on The U.S. 400 team. Notably world championship finalist Vernon Norwood and 2023 U.S. champion  Bryce Deadmon missed the team finishing 4th and 5th while high schooler Quincy Wilson finished 6th. 

Women’s Heptathlon: Anna Hall Returns to Glory 

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After a knee surgery back in January it was star Anna Hall who dominated, winning by 158 points to go to her first Olympics. In second was world finalist Chari Hawkins with 6456 points and third was Taliyah Brooks with 6408 points. 

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Women’s 3,000 Steeplechase: Jennings dominates the final 1k, Gear & Ostrander advance, big names move on 

Heat 1: There were no surprises in the first heat, where the four women with the Olympic standard moved on easily. Courtney Wayment, Valerie Contstein, and Kaylee Mitchell finished three abreast in a jog but Mitchell won the heat–clocking 9:29.54. Madie Boreman was the last of the Big 4 to finish as she came off the gas down the homestretch and finished a few meters back. The most exciting race was the competition for fifth place, the final auto-qualifying spot–it included Annie Rodenfels, Logan Jolly, and Angelina Ellis; who took a nasty fall early on in the race. Ellis would nab the final auto-qualifying spot after clawing back over the final 1000 meters.

Heat 2: Despite going out five seconds slower than the first heat through the first kilometer, the second heat was won in 9:23.88 by Gabby Jennings–nearly six seconds faster than Kaylee Mitchell’s heat two time. Behind Jennings was the former Notre Dame star turned professional, Olivia Markezich and the 3x NCAA champion, Allie Ostrander. Last year’s U.S. champ, Krissy Gear seemed down and out at the bell but surged back to nab a time qualifier, crossing the line in 9:30.92. 

Men’s 110 Hurdle First Round: Holloway Impress’s 

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Heat 1: We expect this out of Grant Holloway but it never gets less impressive. Holloway was flawless, blasting 12.92 to take a tenth of a second off his world lead and put himself .12 quicker than everyone else in the world. This is his second-quickest time ever behind his 12.81 at the trials in 2021. NCAA champion Darius Luff of Nebraska and freshmen sensation Ja’kobe Tharp also qualified out of this heat running 13.33 and 13.37. 

Heat 2: The second heat was all Freddie Crittenden–last year’s fourth-placer at the world championships, who won; tying his season’s best of 13.16 seconds. Cordell Tinch, last year’s breakout star ran 13.33 for second place–last year, he ran 12.96 seconds good for #20 in world history. 

Heat 3: It was a two-man race the entire way with world silver medalist Trey Cunningham pulling away from Dylan Beard to run 13.12 (ties season best) vs Beard’s 13.19 as this race with the #3 and #5 hurdlers in the world lived up to the hype. 

Heat 4: Last year’s bronze medallist, Daniel Roberts got out well but wasn’t able to ward off Daniel Britt–who reeled him in and won the final heat in 13.07 seconds, a new personal best. Ja’Qualon Scott, the third-placer at NCAA’s got third, running 13.15 seconds; good enough for a personal best. 

Women’s Discus: World Champion Laulauga Tausaga-Collins Gets Bounced in Heats

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In a shocker, it was reigning world champion Laulauga Tausaga-Collins who fouled all three of her throws and did not advance to the final. Tausaga-Collins had trouble with her accuracy as she put her second throw onto the track and failed to land a throw in the sector. All if the other major players made it through the first round.

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Men’s Long Jump: Florida State’s Jeremiah Davis takes Gold

In a surprise result, it was Florida State’s Jeremiah Davis who was able to upgrade his NCAA silver to a U.S. title, jumping 8.20 m on his third jump to win the competition. It was an instate affair as Florida’s Malcolm Clemons used his last two jumps to vault from 6th to second jumping 8.18 m on his last jump. Jarrion Lawson also jumped 8.18 m but finished third due to a worse second jump. 

Reigning US champ Marquis Dendy was only 11th.

Women’s High Jump: Kentucky’s Charity Hufnagel wins surprise title, as Vashti Cunnningham who has to do jump off to make Olympic tema

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After finishing twelfth at NCAA’s on this very track Charity Hufnagel just weeks ago was the one that would emerge as a U.S champion jumping A PB of 1.94 m. Behind her was Rachel Glenn who also jumped 1.94 m, but cleared the height on her third attempt as opposed to  Hufnagel who cleared it on her first. In third was favorite Vashti Cunningham who had won every U.S outdoor title since 2016 and had an off day, but still booked her ticket to Paris, thanks to winning a jump-off.

*won jumpoff