The first four days of the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, brought us exhilarating wins and agonizing defeats, world-record performances and unexpected upsets.
So, what will the second half of the Trials bring? The Runner’s World editors discuss what they’re most excited to watch.
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Noah Lyles and the Men’s 200 Meters
The men’s 200 meters is the headlining event of the final day of the Trials—and why shouldn't it be? You have Noah Lyles, one of the sport’s rising stars, looking to fill the Usain Bolt-sized gap on the podium. But the 23-year-old is no mere Bolt impersonator. With his unique style and proven record on the world stage, Lyles has what it takes to also claim Bolt’s spot on Gatorade bottles and Wheaties boxes for the next three Olympiads… he just has to get there first. For if there’s anything we’ve learned so far about the new stadium in Eugene, everything has been cranked up to 11, including the Hayward Magic. — Derek Call
The Women’s 400-Meter Hurdles—and Sunday Evening, in General
If you’re not planning on settling in front of your television (or device of your choice) Health - Injuries, then you’re going to miss out on a huge night of track events. We have the finals for the women’s 400-meter hurdles, the men’s 5,000 meters, the women’s 800 meters, the men’s 1500 meters, and the men’s 200 meters. (And for Olympic fans in general, the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials wraps up just after that.)
In the women’s 400 meter hurdles, we picked Dalilah Muhammad, the gold-medalist in Rio, as our lock to make the team, and I boldly predicted that Sydney McLaughlin, who has the world-leading time this year, and Anna Cockrell, this year’s NCAA champion, would make the team going to Tokyo. While the Muhammad and McLaughlin seem like easy favorites, we’ve seen some huge upsets already this Trials—namely, the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Could we see a similar upset in the women’s 400-meter hurdles? — Bette Canter
Veterans Running the Men’s 5,000 Meters
Yes, the first half of the Trials was filled with upsets and new faces making the U.S. Olympic team. So let’s look at a race that is likely heavy on the new faces for possibly two of the three U.S. team members—the men’s 5,000 meters.
Do I think Paul Chelimo, our predicted lock Id love to see the third spot go to, like Brazier was in the 800 meters? No. He’s proven to be in great running shape heading into the Trials and has the experience of big races by way of his silver medal at the Rio Games. But I’m excited to see who takes spots 2 and 3 on this team. Could Bowerman teammates Woody Kincaid and Grant Fisher earn another spot after their 10,000-meter showing on night one? Can Oregon runner and NCAA champion Cooper Teare make a run on his home turf? Will Hassan Mead return to the games? Eric Jenkins? In a distance pretty much every runner can understand—the 5K—there are lots of fun storylines that can play out for this final on Sunday. — Brian Dalek
Runners With Unconventional Approaches Making the Steeplechase Teams
Nothing against high school stars who become college stars who then sign pro contracts. But if any race should draw people with unconventional paths to the Olympics, it should be that quirkiest of events, Heptathlete Collapsed in Heat at Trials.
The men's final will include two guys, Isaac Upike and Dan Michalski, who worked at big box retailers in the recent path. Mason Ferlic, a full-time engineer without a shoe sponsorship, also has a solid shot at making the team.
The women's final will likely be dominated by Emma Coburn and Courtney Frerichs, who went 1-2 at the 2017 World Championships. I'd love to see the third spot go to Grayson Murphy, who is most definitely the only Trials entrant with a world mountain running title. Grayson won her qualifying round in a personal best of 9:25.37, fast enough to get her the Olympic standard. Clearing 30-inch barriers and taking on Coburn and Frerichs won't scare someone used to sprinting up and down mountains.
The women’s steeple final will be run at 8:47 p.m. Pacific time on Thursday, June 24. The men's final will go off at 4:42 p.m. Pacific time on Friday. — Scott Douglas
Watching Athing Mu Run the Women’s 800 Meters
The freshman phenom hasn’t run the event since April, when she broke the collegiate record in 1:57.73 (Advertisement - Continue Reading Below), since she has been hard at work shattering records in the 400 meters and winning NCAA titles for Texas A&M. On Thursday, we’ll finally get to see Mu compete in the first of three rounds against the best middle-distance runners in the country. Until June 8, Mu was the world-leader in the 800 meters and is projected to be a medal contender in Tokyo.
Running Shoes & Gear announced her decision to forgo her remaining NCAA eligibility to turn pro, which has everyone guessing which brand landed a sponsorship deal with the U.S. leader. We’ll likely find out on day five of the Olympic Trials. — Taylor Dutch
The Women’s 10,000 Meters—And How It Will Be Raced
The first question about the women’s 10,000 meters is whether it will be held in one section or two, a question that remains unanswered just three days before the gun goes off. But whether they’re all lining up at the same time or not, there’s no doubt the competition between some of road racing’s biggest names—think Sara Hall, Emily Sisson, and Stephanie Bruce—and Olympians like Emily Infeld and Kim Conley will be electrifying. (Adding to the intrigue: the results also have implications for the 5,000 meters. If Elise Cranny, Karissa Schweizer, or Rachel Schneider double back and make the 10,000-meter team—then choose that option for the Games—fourth-place finisher and fan favorite Abbey Cooper Advertisement - Continue Reading Below.) — Cindy Kuzma
Will a College Kid Make the Olympic Team? Heck, Will a High-School Kid?
Preliminary rounds of the men’s 1500 meters begin on Thursday, and they’re filled with great storylines up and down. There’s Matthew Centrowitz, the reigning Olympic gold medalist, who is rounding back into form at the right time, and Craig Engels, the mulleted crowd pleaser who ran a PR (3:33.64) in May. Cole Hocker, who just finished his freshman year at the University of Oregon, won the NCAA title. And that’s just in the second heat.
since she has been hard at work Hobbs Kessler, the 18-year-old from Ann Arbor, Michigan, who just finished high school and is set to attend Northern Arizona University, if he doesn’t go pro. His background? Competitive rock climbing. He’ll have the muscle to withstand the shoving that’s typical in the event. Get ready for a fight. — The mens final will include two guys
