The World Championships are the showcase of the world’s best talent in the sport of track and field. It’s one of the few opportunities during the year to see much of the Worlds talent going head to head. And for us here in America, one of the few opportunities to see our best athletes compete agains their counterparts from other parts of the world.
So, in roughly ten days time, we get what is truly something rare in this country. Because most people don’t realize just how good the members of Team America are. Or even worse, who these people are. So following is a brief description of what I consider to be some of the ten best Americans that will be on stage during the World Championships.
Sydney McLaughlin – 400H
“Syd” is literally rewriting the Women’s 400 hurdles. She qualified for the Olympics as a high schooler in 2016 and gained experience. She went to Worlds in 2019 and took silver behind a WR performance, becoming #2 all time in the process. That was not good enough for Sydney. So she changed coaches – to Bobby Kersee! One of the country’s premier coaches. So, she came out of Covid, went t to Nationals, and broke the WR and the 52sec barrier. She returned to the Olympics in 2021 and won, setting another world record. for an encore, she opened her season this year, inches from another WR. Then went to Nationals and, set another WR. That’s the annotated story of Sydney as she heads to the World Championships. Her goal? To win and run as fast as she can! #popcorntime
Ryan Crouser – Shot Put
Domination. That’s Ryan Crouser. Not just how many victories he’s racked up over the past few seasons. Not “just” wins however, but victories with outstanding performances. Rewriting the all time list to the point that it’s almost a list of HIS his top performances. For example, he holds the WR; the top five times ever; and eight of the top ten marks in history! How about 17 of the top 25 marks in history? They belong to Ryan. I could continue but you should get the picture. He’s clearly the best ever by any measure. Unfortunately, he gets seriously overlooked because he doesn’t perform on the track – and that is a shame. Hopefully the telecast this year will give him his due, because he’ll be at home and is a threat to once again break the WR! At the least I expect that he’ll throw over 76ft. Something only he has done! But on a good day, I htink we could see 77ft. That’s greatness.
Athing Mu – 800
This twenty year old young lady, has already had a career that any thirty year old would be proud of. She’s set collegiate records in both the 400 and 800 – in only a single year of college. She set the American record in the 800 (1:55.03) at the age of nineteen last year AND won the Olympic gold medal! She also ran a leg on the winning Olympic 4×4 in 48.3! And she’s really not touched the open 400 much since she set her collegiate record. So her potential there is actually untouched. This young woman has so much potential ahead of her. And what we are watching is her growth, in much the same way we’ve watched Sydney grow up in the sport. To miss watching her would be tragic. So don’t. Her battle with Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson should be a highlight of the meet.
Erriyon Knighton – 200
Of the young people in this list, Erriyon is the youngest. As a matter of fact, he just graduated from high school a few weeks ago. Yet he’s already an Olympian. Having made last year’s Olympic team; making the final in the 200; and finishing fourth! So, what does he do for an encore? Opens his season becoming #4 all time, with a sterling 19.49 sprint! He’s just finished second at the national championships and is headed to the World Championships. Looking to improve his placing from last year! Again, to watch this young man, is to watch the growth of greatness.
Valarie Allman – Discus
This young lady is a field event athlete that is poetry in motion! Typically we think of field event athletes as being big and strong. This discus thrower doesn’t look like your typical thrower however. More like a potential heptathlete. Until she gets in the ring that is, and begins to spin. Then she looks like a dancer. Which she once was in another life. The grace and precision of her “dance” across the ring, typically ends up with a toss further than her opponents! Far enough to win gold in Tokyo last year, and become #16 all time in the event! More importantly, she’s the longest thrower in the event in over thirty years! And the best since the Eastern Bloc steroid era. She enters Worlds as a heavy favorite.
Michael Norman – 400
Where do I begin? Norman has been a star since high school. He graduated as #3 all time in the 200, #8 all time in the 400, and finished 5th at the Olympic Trials in the 200. Then he went to college and broke the collegiate record in the 400 – running 43.60! The following season (2019) he opened up at 43.45 and talks of world records and gold medals were all over the internet. Except that, he didn’t run any faster, and failed to make the finals at Worlds that year. He made the Olympic final last year, but failed to medal. This year, he seems to be “back to normal” running a couple of 43’s and winning US Nationals in 43.56! Norman is one of the most talented athletes on the planet. Hopefully he will show the world just how talented in Eugene!
Abby Steiner – 200
In Kentucky they tweet about #steinerspeed! Though I’m not sure that most fans realize just how good she’s been this year. She’s threatened to have a season like this for a couple of years now. Crushing it indoors, then getting injured. 2022 has been complete however. First an indoor season where she broke the collegiate 300 record, and both the collegiate and American 200 records with a stunning 22.09 – #2 time ever! Then she came outdoors and was finally healthy. She was able to run well, and go to the SEC meet, healthy! Since the SEC meet, she’s been on a tear. She ran 22.07 at SEC’ but was only 2nd to then CR holder, Favour Ofili. She went to the Regional meet and ran 22.19 and 22.01 (2.1mps). Then went to the NCAA Championships and ran 22.02 and 21.80. Winning the title; avenging her loss; and crushing the CR! She took another trip back to Eugene for Nationals and ran 22.14, 21.80, and 21.77 to take the National title – earning her first trip to Worlds. Where the rest of the world will finally get to experience #steinerspeed. I can’t guarantee that she’ll win, but I can guarantee you that the race will be fast, because that’s the only way to beat her!
Noah Lyles – 200
Some athletes have another gear. They’re fast, but somehow in mid race they manage to “turn it up a notch”. Tommie Smith, Steve Williams, Carl Lewis, Donovan Bailey, and Usain Bolt had “that” gear. Well now, so does Noah. His career has been stellar since high school. He set the HSR in the 200 at 20.09. Then went to the Olympic Trials and took 4th, just missing the team. Instead of college he decided to turn Pro. And following a maiden season where he got injured, he’s run fast and won a lot. He won the World title in 2019, and Olympic bronze last year. A disappointment for someone that’s only had one loss in Diamond League competition in the five years he’s been a professional. His PB of 19.50 makes him #5 all time. And his Nationals win over one of the best fields ever assembled, showcased just how good his “Noahdrive” gear is – my phrase. If you want to see fast, make sure you tune in and watch the men’s 200 at Worlds. As four of America’s best ever (led by Noah) will be on display. #noahdrive
Melissa Jefferson – 100
There’s one thing that is guaranteed to happen in the sport every year. That’s emergence of a new star. Everyone on this list has “THAT” season. This year it belongs to Melissa Jefferson. At the beginning of the year, she was not on my personal radar, as I was trying to figure out who might be the top American female sprinters for 2022. Even though she opened her season at 11.00 then had a followup race of 11.08. That was My Bad! Because at her conference meet, she ran a sizzling 10.88! Which made me, and the rest of the track world, wake up and take notice of the sprinter from little ole Coastal Carolina College! She went to Regionals and casually moved on to NCAA’s where she ran 10.96 in her semi. But finished a disappointing 8th in a subpar (for her) 11.24. Making many think that she couldn’t handle the pressure. Until she went back to Eugene for Nationals and ran 11.04, 10.82, and 10.69w to win the US title! What a difference a win makes. As now everyone is following her Cinderella story and waiting to see what she does next.
Grant Holloway – 110H
In the last couple of seasons, Grant has emerged as one of the true stars of the sport. While he was at the University of Florida, he demonstrated just how talented he is as he long jumped 27ft; split 43.8 in the 4×4; ran on the CR setting 4×1; and set a CR of 12.98 in his specialty 110H! Then he won a world title in the hurdles in 2019. Oh, by the way, he’s broken the WR indoors over the 60H, and blitzed to a 12.81 outdoors – only.01 from the WR. Not a bad resume. Since college, Grant has really only had 2 “stumbles” in his professional career. He took silver in the hurdles in last year’s Olympics to Jamaican Hansle Parchment. And he was upset earlier this year by fellow American Devon Allen in Devon’s PB race, 12.84. So, Grant enters Worlds looking to repeat as World Champion and avenge his losses in the process. This is yet another event that should be crazy exciting.
The fans at Worlds will have plenty of home grown talent to cheer for. As we are sending oneof our most talented teams ever. With a little luck, we could have the greatest medal haul in history. Right here at home. #staytuned