All roads continue to lead to world championships in Tokyo in September and many of the biggest names in the sport once will be in action in Eugene, Oregon this week for a shot at making Team USA.
At stake in this post-Paris Olympics showcase are some of the biggest prizes in track and field as defending world champions and a new wave of challengers headline a stacked meet at Hayward Field. The top three podium finishers in most events will make the team.
In a first, USA Track and Field has combined this meet with the Para National Championships and those who make the team will make the trip to the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, India from September 26 to October 5.
Team USA looks to continue its reign on the world championships stage, winning 29 medals at the 2023 meet in Budapest and 33 in Eugene in 2022 — which continues to stand as a record total.
Key athletes to watch
Noah Lyles will double in the 100m and 200m
A later start to the outdoor season will likely have little impact on Noah Lyles in Eugene, as his sights are locked in on taking the national titles in the men’s 100m and 200m. Lyles won both races in Budapest in 2023 and gets an automatic wild card qualifier along with a guaranteed spot on Team USA’s Tokyo roster. With Fred Kerley a late scratch, Trayvon Bromell and Kenny Bednarek will still be in the mix in the 100m, while in the 200m, Lyles will have to contend with Christian Coleman, Erriyon Knighton and T’Mars McCallum — who holds the world lead at 19.73.
A new challenge for Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
The women’s 400m hurdles field will be a bit more wide open as Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will focus on the 400m and grabbing one of three slots for world championships. McLaughlin-Levrone not competing in the hurdles means she must advance each round and have a strong showing in the 400m finals in order to head to Tokyo. Her 49.43 at the Prefontaine Classic earlier in the month was encouraging, but Alexis Holmes, Lynna Irby-Jackson, Aaliyah Butler and Isabella Whittaker all have the power — and times — to make things interesting for McLaughlin-Levrone.
Grant Fisher faces stacked fields in the 5,000m and 10,000m
A growing list of accolades got even larger at last year’s Paris Olympics when Grant Fisher became the first American to win Olympic medals in men’s 5,000m and 10,000m. Fisher won bronze in both events and holds the American record-holder in the 10,000m at 26:33.84 but faces a notable field in both events in Eugene. Nico Young, Cole Hocker, Cooper Teare and Graham Blanks lead the way with Fisher in a 5,000m loaded with talent. Blanks and Young will also join Fisher in the 10,000m as Woody Kincaid, Ahmed Muhumed and Casey Clinger all look to punch their tickets to Tokyo.
After Olympic gold, Gabby Thomas looks to upgrade her bronze at worlds
Gabby Thomas, the defending national champion in the 200m, is after her fourth titles at the distance and comes off of a steller display at the Paris Olympic last year where she racked up three gold medals. Thomas is entered in the women’s 100m and 200m this weekend in Eugene and faces a showdown with the top Americas who all have world championship pedigree. Sha’Carri Richardson, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and TeeTee Terry are among the names expected in the 100m final. On the 200m side, Brittany Brown joins a deep pool that includes Jefferson-Wooden, Tamari Davis and McKenzie Long that will pose a considerable challenge to Thomas.
How To Watch
The USATF Outdoor National Championships airs live on:
Thursday at 1:30 p.m.-12:10 a.m. on USATF.tv
Friday at 2 p.m.-10:45 p.m. on USATF.tv
Saturday at 9:30 a.m-9 p.m. on USATF.tv, 4-6 p.m. on NBC, 4-7 p.m. on Peacock
Sunday at 2:30 p.m.-6 p.m. on USATF.TV, 4-6 p.m. on NBC and Peacock
All times Eastern
USATF Outdoor National Championships Schedule
Thursday
1:30 p.m. – Men’s 100m Decathlon
2:00 p.m. – Women’s 100m Hurdles Heptathlon
2:20 p.m. – Men’s Long Jump Decathlon
3:15 p.m. – Women’s High Jump Heptathlon
3:20 p.m. – Men’s Shot Put Decathlon
4:20 p.m. – Men’s Javelin Final
4:30 p.m. – Women’s Hammer Throw Final
6:07 p.m. – Men’s 800m (1st Round)
6:30 p.m. – Women’s Javelin Final
6:37 p.m. – Women’s 800m (1st Round)
7:07 p.m. – Women’s 100m (1st Round)
7:30 p.m. – Men’s Hammer Throw Final
7:37 p.m. – Men’s 100m (1st Round)
8:07 p.m. – Women’s 3,000m Steeplechase (1st Round)
8:39 p.m. – Men’s 3,000m Steeplechase (1st Round)
8:45 p.m. – Men’s High Jump Decathlon
9:00 p.m. – Women’s Long Jump Final
9:10 p.m. – Men’s 1,500m (1st Round)
9:20 p.m. – Women’s Shot Put Heptathlon
9:32 p.m. – Women’s 1,500m (1st Round)
9:54 p.m. – Women’s 10,000m Final
10:36 p.m. – Women’s 200m Heptathlon
10:52 p.m. – Men’s 400m Decathlon
11:08 p.m. – Men’s 10,000m Final
Friday
2:30 p.m. – Men’s 110m Hurdles Decathlon
3:25 p.m. – Men’s Discus Decathlon
5:00 p.m. – Women’s Long Jump Heptathlon
5:05 p.m. – Men’s Pole Vault Decathlon
6:38 p.m. – Men’s 800m Semifinal
7:01 p.m. – Women’s 800m Semifinal
7:05 p.m. – Women’s Javelin Heptathlon
7:05 p.m. – Women’s High Jump Final
7:10 p.m. – Men’s Long Jump Final
7:20 p.m. – Women’s 100m Semifinal
7:24 p.m. – Men’s 400m Semifinal
7:47 p.m. – Women’s 400m Semifinal
8:10 p.m. – Men’s 100m Semifinal
8:25 p.m. – Men’s Javelin Decathlon
8:55 p.m. – Women’s 800m Heptathlon
10:06 p.m. – Men’s 1,500m Decathlon
10:17 p.m. – Men’s 100m Final
10:27 p.m. – Women’s 100m Final
Saturday
10:00 a.m. – Women’s 20km Race Walk Final
10:01 a.m. – Men’s 20km Race Walk Final
2:20 p.m. – Men’s Discus Throw Final
3:14 p.m. – Men’s 110m Hurdles (1st Round)
3:40 p.m. – Women’s Triple Jump Final
3:40 p.m. – Women’s 100m Hurdles Semifinal
3:45 p.m. – Women’s Shot Put Final
3:50 p.m. – Men’s Pole Vault Final
4:03 p.m. – Women’s 400m Final
4:11 p.m. – Men’s 400m Final
4:19 p.m. – Women’s 400m Hurdles Semifinal
4:41 p.m. – Men’s 400m Hurdles Semifinal
5:03 p.m. – Women’s 1,500m Final
5:14 p.m. – Men’s 1,500m Final
5:25 p.m. – Women’s 100m Hurdles Final
5:49 p.m. – Men’s 3,000m Steeplechase Final
6:04 p.m. – Women’s 3,000m Steeplechase Final
Sunday
3:00 p.m. – Women’s Pole Vault Final
3:00 p.m. – Women’s Discus Final
3:05 p.m. – Men’s 200m Semifinal
3:30 p.m. – Men’s Triple Jump Final
3:32 p.m. – Women’s 200m Semifinal
3:50 p.m. – Men’s High Jump Final
3:55 p.m. – Men’s 110m Hurdles Semifinal
4:18 p.m. – Women’s 800m Final
4:26 p.m. – Men’s 800m Final
4:34 p.m. – Women’s 400m Hurdles Final
4:40 p.m. – Men’s Shot Put Final
4:43 p.m. – Men’s 400m Hurdles Final
4:52 p.m. – Men’s 5,000m Final
5:13 p.m. – Women’s 200m Final
5:22 p.m. – Men’s 200m Final
5:31 p.m. – Women’s 5,000m Final
5:54 p.m. – Men’s 110m Hurdles Final
All times Eastern
