The first four athletes of what will become a loaded lineup at USA Track and Field Outdoor and Para National Championships next month was revealed on Monday as world champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, teen phenom Cooper Lutkenhaus, Paralympic gold medalist Ezra Frech and collegiate record holder Parker Valby make up the initial group set to rock the track at Icahn Stadium in New York next month.
Three-time world champion Jefferson-Wooden leads the way after a flawless campaign in 2025 saw her storm into Tokyo last September and surge to world titles in the 100m, 200m and women’s 4×100m relay. She has already tested the waters this season at Diamond League and is preparing to line up against the best in the country from July 23 to 26.
“I am excited to be in New York at the end of July,” Jefferson-Wooden said. “Right now, my focus is simple: one day, one practice, one meet at a time. I am staying present, trusting the process and looking forward to seeing where that takes me this season.”
Lutkenhaus has not hesitated in continuing to make a name for himself despite gaining his experience on-the-fly at just 17 years old. In just a year he has made his mark as the under-18 record holder in the 800m at 1:42.08 from this month’s Oslo Diamond League meeting — a world lead this year — and grabbing the under-20 record in the distance at 1:44.03 on the indoor track in February in North Carolina.
“I am looking forward to a great race at the USATF Outdoor Championships,” Lutkenhaus said. “It will be special to race for my second national title in New York City, where I won the U.S. indoor title earlier this year. It truly is the world’s biggest stage.”
Valby will also ensure that she will be a factor in New York, as she rebounds from a rookie season that was shortened by injury and is out to prove that she is meant to be in the podium conversation. She roared to a personal best 14:39.88 in the women’s 5,000m in a win at the L.A. Grand Prix in on June 13, serving as the breakout moment she will need next month as more marquee names are announced.
Meanwhile, Frech has proven to be more than just a fixture in the Paralympic movement, grabbing a pair of gold medals in the 100m and high jump at the 2024 Paris Games and took the silver in the high jump at the World Para Athletics Championships last year.
“I’m super excited to see the crowds and atmosphere next month,” Frech said. “Since it was announced, I have been looking forward to competing in such an epic city like New York. Can’t wait to put on a show!”
This year’s event is a break from the usual confines of Hayward Field in Eugene and is a unique opportunity for a national showcase to lead on the backdrop of New York City to draw the best on the track and in the field.
That means local running mainstays like New York Road Runners, Central Park Track Club and the Randall’s Island Park Alliance are all on board for a different take on how the next national champions are crowned.
Spanning three days from July 23 to 26, the outdoor championships will be the second combined event that includes the Para championships since the American Para movement joined USATF last January.
