EUGENE, Oregon – The 2024 U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials featured the best of the best in the sport as American athletes readied themselves for the Paris Olympics this summer.
Of course, there were standouts, some surprises and unexpected stunners in the forming of Team USA.
Noah Lyles dominated the men’s sprints, capturing both the 100 and 200 races. Sha’Carri Richardson solidified her world championship in Budapest by winning the women’s 100 meters. However, in probably the most shocking event of the trials was Richardson getting smoked in the women’s 200 and coming in fourth place.
Gabby Thomas will lead the American trio in Paris after winning the women’s 200 in a very fast 21.81 seconds. The expected showdown between Thomas and Richardson never really materialized as the U.S. 100-meter champ faltered in the last 20 meters and failed to catch the top three runners.
Thomas, Brittany Brown (21.9) and McKenzie Long (21.91) will be the women representing the United States in the women’s 200 race at the Summer Games.
By not finishing among the top three runners in the race, Richardson will not have the opportunity to try to double as Lyles will have the chance to do. The hurdles, both the short distance and long distance, were thrilling races.
Former USC standout Rai Benjamin took first place in the men’s 400 hurdles in a new meet record of 46.46 on the meet’s last day.
Not to be outdone, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone smashed the world record in the women’s 400 hurdles in the last event of the meet. McLaughlin-Levrone crossed the tape in a winning time of 50.65, a new world mark.
Two other former USC stalwarts, Anna Cockrell and Jasmine Jones, claimed the second and third spots, respectively, and will be headed to Paris along with McLaughlin-Levrone. In the field events, Tara Davis-Woodhall had to pull a rabbit out of a hat in order to make the Olympic team.
After fouling on several attempts, Davis-Woodhall nailed her winning jump of 22 feet, 11 and 3/4 inches.
Dennis has covered and written about politics, crime, race, sports, and entertainment. Dennis currently covers the NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAA, and Olympic sports. Dennis is the editor of News4usonline.com and serves as the publisher of the Compton Bulletin newspaper. He earned a journalism degree from Howard University. Email Dennis at dfreeman@news4usonline.com