Tara Davis-Woodhall soared to a 7.25m world lead at the L.A. Grand Prix on Sunday, headlining a host of solid performances from some of the biggest names in the sport along the latest stop on the USATF Tour.
The meet felt like a mid-season season preview of next month’s outdoor nationals in New York as the track and field campaign roars through the summer months.
Davis-Woodhall found her way to the new world leading mark on her third attempt in the women’s long jump as part of four jumps over 7 meters that drew a roar from the crowd at USC’s Allyson Felix Track at Loker Stadium.
“I just kind of said full send — send it,” Davis-Woodhall said. :I have it written in my shoe, and so that was it.”
Monae’ Nichols was second with 6.81m and Tyra Gittens-Spotsville finished third with a 6.80m jump.
The crowd was treated to a second dose of Davis-Woodhall, but in the women’s 100m hurdles after she faced off against fellow Olympic champion Masai Russell.
But Russell was locked in and on target as she bolted to a 12.26 meet record while Davis-Woodhall was a close second in 12.47, another personal best for the day as Grace Stark took third in 12.48.
“It was a good race,” Russell said. “It slowed down through the line running 12.2, so I know I’m still in amazing shape from China.”
Sha’Carri Richardson roared to a 10.99 win in the women’s 100m over Kayla White (11.08) and Tamari Davis (11.11), while Kenny Bednarek grabbed the victory in the men’s 100m in 9.72 as he edged past Christian Coleman (9.84) and Abdul-Rasheed Saminu (9.88).
Aaliyah Butler cruised to a 49.90 first place finish in the women’s 400m in a dominant win over Ella Onojuvwevwo (50.25) and Alexis Holmes (51.08), Emily Mackay took the women’s 1,500m in 3:59.26 in close battle over Katie Snowden (4:00.97) and Gabija Galvydyte (4:01.21) and Brandon Miller stormed to a 1:43.94 win in a stacked men’s 800m that saw him come from behind in a stunner over Handal Roban (1:45.32) and Donavan Brazier (1:45.41).
“The biggest thing is, I just want to stay patient,” Miller said. “It’s exciting that the Olympics are going to be here in two years. The fans here love track and field, and they surely deserve an Olympics.”
Chase Jackson tossed a 20.53m meet record in her first attempt in the women’s shot put over Sarah Mitton (20.15) and Adelaide Aquilla (19.34), Valarie Sion grabbed a meet record of her own in her fifth try with a 69.15m throw in the women’s discus in a win ahead of Erika Beistle (65.02) and Jorinde Van Klinken (64.95) and Tshepo Tshite pulled off a close win in the men’s 3,000m in 7:37.57 over a surging Cole Hocker (7:37.77) and Eduardo Herrera (7:38.53).
In the women’s 3,000m steeplechase, Gabrielle Jennings grabbed a 9:11.72 meet record victory as she surged ahead of Lexy Halladay (9:22.89) and Courtney Wayment (9:23.94), as Favour Ofili bolted to a 22.45 win in the women’s 200m over Gemima Joseph (22.88) and Rosemary Chukwuma (22.94), while Rajindra Campbell got the men’s shot put win with a 21.94m throw in his six attempt past Jordan Geist (21.76) and Joe Kovacs (21.76)
Jamal Britt won the men’s 110m hurdles in a 12.99 personal best as he inched past Trey Cunningham (13.03) and Cordell Tinch (13.15) while Anna Cockrell closed the event with 53.43 meet record in the women’s 400m hurdles over Dalilah Muhammad (53.65) and Gianna Woodruff (54.48).
