The wait is finally over. The biggest meet outside of the Olympic Games is finally under way. Many of the world’s best athletes are American. Making the competition here very deep and competitive. Add the qualifying procedure that only places the top three finishers in each event, and you have a very electrifying meet. That’s exactly what we got the first four days. Tremendously exciting competition. With a team that’s going to be very competitive in Paris. There’ll be much to talk about when it’s all over, but here are some thoughts on the first half of these Olympic Trials.
Disappointments – Not to sound negative, but the Trials have more individuals leaving disappointed than happy. That’s unfortunately the nature of competition. Christian Coleman has made every team since 2017. Only a ban kept him out of Tokyo. This year, it was a fourth place finish being three former Olympians. Former Olympic champion and current world hammer leader, Brooke Anderson, fouled three throws and didn’t make the final. American pole vault record holder, KC Lightfoot, didn’t jump high enough to make the final. Perhaps the biggest disappointment of all. Defending Olympic 800m champion, Athing Mu, falls in the final, and finishes last. There are those struggling to make the team that find disappointment. The are also those that are “supposed” to make the team that find disappointment. Even the sun goes down and heroes eventually die! Nothing is for certain. Especially at the Olympic Trials.
America’s Fastest Humans – The 100m crowns the fastest humans. This year’s races had a clear favorite in one. Perhaps the deepest final in US history in the other. The clear favorite was Sha’Carri Richardson. She’s perhaps the most dominant 100m sprinter in the world on the women’s side. We’ll have a clue after the completion of the Jamaican Trials. In either case, her 10.71 is the world leader and makes her an Olympic favorite regardless of who else showed up to Paris. As Sha’Carri is fit and as she showed in Budapest, has the best top end speed among current women. The American men are sending a three headed beast to Paris. Trials winner Noah Lyles (9.83), Kenny Bednarek (9.87), and Fred Kerley (9.88) are all veterans of Olympic competition. Global medalists. And among the best sprinters we’ve ever sent into international competition. All three have the potential to make the Paris final and medal! One of the best Olympic trios ever. On par with our fabled Mexico City squad of 1968.
Amazing Kids – The US depth begins with our youngsters. Most Olympic Trials feature one or two high schoolers that are good enough to challenge their elders. The 2016 Trials had Sydney McLaughlin make the team, with Noah Lyles and Michael Norman just missing in 4th and 5th place in the 200m. The 2021 Trials has Erriyon Knighton make the 200m squad. So in spite of all the current hype, this is not new. I can go back through many Trials with similar stories. This time around it was Christian Miller (100m, 9.93) and Quincy Wilson (44.59) giving it a shot. As I said earlier, this is the toughest team on the planet to make. Especially in the sprints. So these young men making the final was a win. The over exuberance of social media was a bit much. Showing a lack of understanding of what these young men were facing. Creating undo expectations for both. However what is clear, is that this pair is the future of American sprinting. A future that is within sight. Given good health both should be prominent at the 2028 Trials.
Field Stars – Some of our most outstanding track and FIELD competitors are in the field. I say this because it seems that field events get short shrift in the sport. Yet Ryan Crouser and Joe Kovacs are the two best shot putters in world history. They went one-two in Eugene throwing further than anyone else in the world. We saw Sam Kendricks set a meet record of 19’5″ to win. With Chris Nilson and Jacob Wooten both at 19’3″ – a very strong crew. The Heptathlon found Anna Hall coming back from early year surgery to win the event. She’s got another month to sharpen for Paris. Curtis Johnson set a seasons best of 272’5″ in the javelin. And I must mention Deanna Price. Second by six inches in the hammer. But heading back to the Olympics where she’s always a medal threat. I spend as much time watching the field in meets because they’re not over within seconds. They last a while, provide drama, and are aesthetically beautiful to watch. I was lucky to be in the stadium opening weekend.
Looking Ahead – we’re only half way home! The high hurdles and 400m hurdles are still ahead. So is the 200m! All of which means we get Sydney McLaughlin Levrone, Rai Benjamin, Sha’Carri Richardson, Gabby Thomas, Abby Steiner, Noah Lyles, Kenny Bednarek, and Erriyon Knighton just to name a few stars that we get to see. Some for a second time. Elle St Pierre returns for the 1500m, as does Sage Hurta Klecker who’s looking for redemption after the 800m. We get to watch Tara Davis Woodhall go at it against Jasmine Moore in the long jump in possibly one of the best head to heads in the meet.
There have been a lot of “surprises” so far, but that is the nature of this meet. I say “surprises” and not upsets, because the athletes that make the finals are all capable! Are some athletes “better” than others? Yes, based on marks. But you have to show up and get it done at the Trials. Nations with few “great” athletes can select their teams without controversy. We have far too many outstanding athletes to do that. Especially given that one shoe company clearly holds the purse strings on USATF! Selection, and the political opportunities that that presents must be off the table. Our process literally puts the athletes in control. It’s not about who’s liked more; who can garner support; who’s won before. You have to be top three within the window of the meet! Simple. Uncomplicated. And yes, sometimes those we think “should” be there, aren’t. That also provides the opportunity for up and coming talent to break through. It’s not “perfect” but it’s what’s best.
So good luck to the remaining competitors. As I tell me athletes, go do you.