U.S Olympic Trials Day 2: Nuguse, Hocker 1500m Final Set as Nuguse Ties Trials Record
Sha'Carri Richardson Blasts World Lead, Big 4 Get in 1500 Final, Big Three Book Ticket in Shot Put
By LetsRun.comThe second day of the U.S Olympic Trials did not disappoint. Sha’Carri Richardson blasted the 10.71 world lead en route to a U.S title, all of the major players got through to the men’s 1500 final and the U.S picked three field teams to send to Paris in men’s shot put, women’s triple jump and in the men’s decathlon. Read below for a recap of all the action.
Women’s 100 Final: Sha’Carri Richardson Blasts World Lead as Dennis Mitchell’s Group Sweeps
Sha’Carri Richardson blasted a new world lead of 10.71 to win the U.S title and book her ticket to her first Olympics. She put together a much more complete race than her preliminary and semis when she really struggled with her starts. Behind her in second and third were training partners Melissa Jefferson, who ran a personal best of 10.80 to finish second, and Twanisha Terry, who has battled with injuries this season, running a season’s best of 10.89 to complete the sweep of Dennis Mitchell’s training group.
Read an in depth recap of the race here.
Men’s 1500 Semi’s: Big 4 Get in, as Nuguse equals Olympic Trials record, as Engels squeezes in final
Eric Holt, Colin Sahlman, and Sam Prakel were the biggest casualties not to make the 1500 final, as a stellar final is on tap on Monday as the Cole Hocker and Yared Nuguse match-up is set with Nuguse leading the semi-final qualifying with a 3:34.09 Olympic Trials qualifying win in heat #2. Recaps of the semis below.
Heat 1: Cole Hocker had no trouble clearing the field down the homestretch to secure his spot in the final, clocking 3:37.89 for the heat win, despite being boxed with 100m to go. Hocker did an inside pass on Luke Houser down the final stretch to get the heat win as Houser faded to 7th and wouldn’t advance. Hocker’s training partner and 2022 U.S. champ, Cooper Teare nearly had a repeat of his prelim from last year’s 1500 heats where he did not advance, but Teare managed to surge into the top 5, finishing in fourth place. The collegians, Liam Murphy (Villanova) and Ethan Strand (UNC) navigated the homestretch to finish in second and third, respectively–huge runs for the collegiate stars. Joe Waskmon employed his kick over the final lap and held on to grab the last auto qualifying spot.
Early on it seemed as though Hocker and Teare, SOVA training partners, were employing team tactics as they crossed the first 800 meters in 2:00.65, with Hocker in the lead, but as the race unfolded, it was clear there was no love lost. Both Hocker and Teare found themselves in vulnerable positions through the final lap but were able to break out and move on. Murphy, who finished in second was in last place at the bell–he had the fastest last 300 meters of the race (39.17 seconds)
Heat 2: On Athletics star Yared Nuguse wanted to take no chances, making the second heat a test of fitness as he went to the front and pushed the pace the entire way. Nuguse used the first three laps to string out the field and was at the front came the bell followed by Hobbs Kessler. Nuguse used a 54.22 final lap to win gun to tape tying the Olympic trials record of 3:34.09 held by Matthew Centrowitz. Kessler would hold on for second. Dark Sky’s Henry Wynne snagged third as the PAC-12 duo Nathan Green of Washington and Elliot Cook of Oregon got the last automatic spots. The two time qualifiers were also from this much quicker heat as Vincent Ciattei and Craig Engels made it through to the final.
Nuguse said his coach Dathan Ritzenhein told him he did not need to lead all 12 laps at the Olympic Trials, so he tried a non front running tactic in round 1 yesterday, but did not like it, so he went back to his front running style today.
Quick Take: This Final is Going to be an All-Timer
Yesterday it was Cole Hocker who ripped his prelim heat while Nuguse ran tactical and today it was the complete opposite. Nuguse and Hocker both look at the top of their game and potential Olympic medal threats and it has led to a showdown in Monday’s final. Both men have a legitimate chance to win The U.S title and cement their status as a medal contender in Paris. How much will Nuguse push the pace if any, and how will Hocker play his cards in the final. Perhaps a college kid will push the pace in hopes of running the Olympic standard? Who on earth will end up getting the third spot? All these questions will be answered during the final Monday night.
Men’s Shot Put: Ryan Crouser wins in Chalk Final
It was reigning world and Olympic champion Ryan Crouser who will be heading to Paris to try and win a third Olympic gold medal winning the Trials with a season’s best fourth throw of 22.84 m. Behind him was 2019 world champion Joe Kovacs who was second with his first throw of 22.43 m to join his wife who will be coaching team USA in Paris. The last spot goes to worlds fifth placer Payton Otterdahl who made the team with his 5th throw of 22.26 m.
Quick Take: We are Spoiled Sending These Three to Paris
These are three men who all should make the Olympic Final and all have a chance to win or medal. We are sending the gold and silver medalist and then the tenth placer from Tokyo to Paris.
Women’s Triple Jump: Late Jumps Decide Team
There were fireworks in the women’s triple jump as world indoor fifth placer Jasmine Moore won with her last jump of 14.26 m to jump up to first and book her ticket to Paris. The second place finisher Olympic Finalist Keturah Orji also saved her best for last jumping 14.22 m and the last spot on the team went to 2022 world bronze medalist Tori Franklin.
Men’s Decathlon: Heath Baldwin’s Big Bet Pays Off
Michigan State’s Heath Baldwin made a big bet by skipping NCAA’s to focus on this meet and it paid off as the NCAA indoor second placer finished first at the trials with a personal best score of 8625. In second place was Zach Ziemek who has made the last two Olympic finals who became the second man in history to make three US Olympic decathlon teams while world championship finalist Harrison Williams who took the third spot to Paris.
Men’s 100 Heats: Stars Get Through as Noah Lyles has Quickest Qualifying Time
Heat 1: The star power in the stands (Snoop Dogg said with Lyles’ mom) did not affect Noah Lyles as he eased into the semifinal, clocking 9.92. Alongside Lyles, there were no surprises–Kenny Bednarek and Kyree King nabbed auto-qualifying spots as well; finishing in 2nd and 4th, respectively. Sam Blaskowski, the DIII star at UW-La Crosse crossed in fifth place to advance to the semifinal.
Heat 2: After his last race was a DNS, walking off the track in New York, it was 2022 champion Fred Kerley who narrowly won his heat running 10.03 over Pjai Austin. Kerley who had a recent falling out with his former sponsor Asics was wearing an Oakley singlet and glasses with Nike spikes.
Heat 3: Brandon Hicklin had no trouble moving onto the semifinal, pointing at the clock as he crossed the line in 10.08 seconds. From Arkansas, Lance Lang moved on as well–running 10.09, good for the second-fastest time of his career. Cravont Charleston, the defending U.S. champ over this distance finished in dead last; clocking 10.49. Whatever ailment had barred him from competing this outdoor season continues to hamper his ability.
Heat 4: World indoor 60 m champion Christian Coleman used his trademark start to win his heat from the gun running a 9.99. Notably 2023 world 4×100 gold medalist, Brandon Carnes failed to qualify.
Heat 5: Courtney Lindsey had no trouble moving out of the final heat–running away from the field in 10.00 seconds. Ronnie Baker of Adidas moved on as well, finishing in second place. Christian Miller, the HS record-holder was last out of the blocks but stormed back to nab the final auto-qualifying spot in 10.22 seconds
Women’s 400 Semi’s: Kaylyn Brown Leads 400 Women to Final, as Effiong Eliminated
Heat 1: The two collegians showed the pros who is boss with Kaylyn Brown of Arkansas getting out to a hot start and never letting up running a 49.71 to win over Aaliyah Butler of Georgia who got the second automatic qualifying spot in 50.01. This heat was particularly quick yielding two-time qualifiers in Alexis Holmes and JaMeesia Ford.
Heat 2: Kendall Ellis got off to a great start and never let up powering herself to a 49.81 in the middle of the track for the win. Behind her was world silver medalist Shamier Little to took the second automatic spot in 50.16. Olympic finalist Quanera Hayes got the last time qualifier running 50.46.
Heat 3: Lynna Irby-Jackson got out to a hot start before cruising the middle portion of her race before using a strong final straight to get the heat win in 50.17. There were four women who were fighting for the second automatic spot but it was Isabella Whittaker of Penn that snagged the second spot as NCAA star Rosey Effiong, who was 4th in Arkansas’ historic 1-2-3-4 at NCAAs, got bounced.
Field Roundup
In men’s long jump qualifying it was USC’s Johnny Brackins who had the best mark jumping 8.03 m as all the major players made it through to the final. It was the same story in the women’s high jump where a slew of women jumped 1.83 m to make it through to the final.
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