EUGENE, Oregon – Flying down the lightning-quick straightaway at Hayward Field Friday on day two of the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden remained undefeated in the women’s 100 this year as she blitzed to a world-leading 10.65 to dominate a star-studded field and move to equal third on the all-time U.S. performer list and equal fifth on the all-time world performer list.
Jefferson-Wooden said, “Now that I made the team in the 100 we can go back, look at the race, and see how I can be better, how I can get faster.”
A rocket start left little doubt that Jefferson-Wooden would be the champion, and she opened up a gap over the second half of the race to win her second national title. An Olympic bronze medalist in the 100 at Paris last summer, Jefferson-Wooden also earned gold on the American 4×100. Kayla White lowered her personal best for silver in 10.84, and Aleia Hobbs earned bronze in 10.92.
“I think it was me just being mentally prepared,” White said. “I came into the Championships feeling the calmest I’ve ever felt in my life. I knew I was prepared, I knew I had great coaching and great training.”
Hobbs said, “I feel amazing. I’m a vet. I am about to be 30 next year, and I feel like an old head out here. I’m not gonna lie, but man, it’s been a long year, and I’m just thankful to be able to make this team in the 100 and not in the relay pool, so I’m grateful.”
Kenny Bednarek blazed to a lifetime best 9.79 to win the men’s 100 and led a blanket finish for the next four places. Bednarek, a two-time Olympic silver medalist in the 200, powered out of the blocks and staved off late challenges from Courtney Lindsey (9.82) and T’Mars McCallum (9.83), who both set lifetime bests in second and third.
“I always knew I had the ability to do it, but I just had to believe in myself and this year, I feel like I started living up to my expectations,” Bednarek said.
His time put him equal sixth on the all-time U.S. performer list and is the second fastest time in the world this year. Trayvon Bromell (9.84) and Christian Coleman (9.86) missed the podium in fourth and fifth, and 18-year-old Georgian Maurice Gleaton tied the American U20 record and national high school record with a 9.92 in sixth.
Lindsey said, “A lot of people doubted me. A lot of people thought I was just gonna make the 200 team. So I wanted to come out and show I can make the 100 team too, and also go out and make the 200 team. This was a statement run.”
Scoring a pair of lifetime bests in the throws and a rapid trip over the 110 hurdles elevated Kyle Garland to No. 3 on the all-time U.S. performer list in the men’s decathlon, helping him tally 8,869 points. Garland trails only Ashton Eaton and Dan O’Brien on the national all-time list, and his performance puts him at No. 10 on the world all-time performer list. Winning his first U.S. title, Garland opened with a season best 13.78 to win the 110H, and then won the discus with a PB toss of 50.93/167-4. His huge breakthrough came in the javelin, where he used a favorable wind to help carry the spear out to 65.52/214-11, an improvement on his PB of more than 15 feet.
Last year’s champion, Heath Baldwin, grabbed the runner-up spot with 8,407, and Harrison Williams filled the other podium spot with a score of 8,223.
Anna Hall became the first woman to win four straight U.S. combined events titles since Pat Daniels in 1964, scoring 6,899 points to take heptathlon gold. Hall had a commanding lead after the first day and she kept up the momentum with a 6.32/20-9 long jump before launching a lifetime best 47.32/155-3 in the javelin, more than a meter farther than her previous PB. Digging deep over the final 120 in the 800, Hall won that event in 2:04.60 to put a cap on another outstanding effort by the No. 2 all-time world performer.
“I feel like every heptathlon has its own story,” Hall said. “This one feels really special, because I feel like this year I kind of got my spark back. Even though there’s quite a few events that didn’t go our way this weekend, I’m really proud of the mental strength that’s come from that. And I’m ready to apply that in the World Championship setting.”
Behind Hall, Taliyah Brooks had the meet of her life to score 6,526 points and meet the World Championships standard as she moved to No. 10 on the all-time U.S. performer list. Allie Jones was third with 6,164.
Sailing over 1.97/6-5.5 on her second attempt, Vashti Cunningham won her seventh U.S. outdoor title and 16th national indoor/outdoor crown in the women’s high jump. Perhaps more importantly, Cunningham met the World Championships qualifying standard. She was pushed all the way by Sanaa Barnes, who scored a big lifetime best with her first attempt clearance at 1.94/6-4.25 and earned silver. Bronze went to Emma Gates, who matched her PB at 1.91/6-3.25.
Returning to the top of the award stand after her streak of U.S. titles was broken last year by Charity Hufnagel, Cunningham said, “I just am blessed to be back on the top. It just was very rewarding to be able to stand here and say God did that.”
In third place going into the final round of the men’s long jump, Isaac Grimes spanned 8.15/26-9 on the antepenultimate jump of the competition to capture his first national title. Sporting a best of 8.10/26-7 from the fifth round, Grimes nailed the board and sailed out one centimeter farther than Will Williams’ wind-aided 8.14/26-8.5 from round four to seal the victory. Williams settled for silver, with Jarrion Lawson earning bronze at 8.12/26-7.75.
Acknowledging the special nature of a joint national championship meet with Para athletes, Grimes said, “I think it’s a big opportunity for them (Para athletes). They get to be in the same environment as us. They get the same crowd as us. I’m glad they get to have the experience that we have here at Hayward.”
Brandon Miller and 2019 champion Donavan Brazier led all qualifiers for the final of the men’s 800, and three-time defending champion Bryce Hoppel and this year’s fastest American, Josh Hoey, also easily advanced from the semifinals. Miller outkicked Brazier to take the first semi in 1:44.25, with Brazier just behind in 1:44.39, while Hoppel claimed the top spot in semi two at 1:45.31 and Hoey won the final semi in 1:44.37. In that second semi, Texas high schooler Cooper Lutkenhaus was clattered just after the bell and recovered to edge past Isaiah Jewett at the line and nab the second auto qualifier spot in 1:45.57.
Hoppel said, “It’s never an easy path to get to those 1:41s, I think I repeat over and over, it’s very difficult, but I think we’re gonna be ready. We learn from the past and we know what to do, and I think putting all the expertise together, I think we really do, especially with the team that we’re sending, have a shot at the medal this time with the U.S.”
On a quest for her third consecutive U.S. title in the women’s 800, Nia Akins took control of the first semifinal coming off the last bend and ran on to the fastest time of the day at 1:58.09 in front of four-time champion Ajee’ Wilson. Sage Hurta-Klecker took the second semi in 1:58.40 and Roisin Willis won semi three in 1:59.60 as 12 women broke 2:00 across the three sections.
“Everyone’s very close this year,” Hurta-Klecker said. “I’ve seen multiple races throughout the season, in races that I’ve been in, go either way with people. I think the finals, that’s the fun part. That’s when the big thing is on the line. There’s only three outcomes that are going to be satisfactory, but we’ll just see what happens.”
Two years after winning his first U.S. outdoor title, Bryce Deadmon sped to the fastest time overall in the men’s 400 semifinal with a 44.34 in semi one. Demarius Smith chopped more than .7 seconds off his lifetime best in second behind Deadmon, running 44.45. Vernon Norwood (44.78) and Jacory Patterson (44.63) were the other semi winners, and nine men cracked 45 seconds.
Knowing she basically just needed to break 51 seconds to advance to the final in the women’s 400, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone instead powered to a masterful 49.59 in the final section, the fastest time overall and the only sub-50 clocking. Other semifinal wins went to Isabella Whittaker, who took semi two in 50.07, and two-time champion Quanera Hayes, who won the first section in 50.76.
Full results are here.
Jefferson-Wooden said, “Now that I made the team in the 100 we can go back, look at the race, and see how I can be better, how I can get faster.”
A rocket start left little doubt that Jefferson-Wooden would be the champion, and she opened up a gap over the second half of the race to win her second national title. An Olympic bronze medalist in the 100 at Paris last summer, Jefferson-Wooden also earned gold on the American 4×100. Kayla White lowered her personal best for silver in 10.84, and Aleia Hobbs earned bronze in 10.92.
“I think it was me just being mentally prepared,” White said. “I came into the Championships feeling the calmest I’ve ever felt in my life. I knew I was prepared, I knew I had great coaching and great training.”
Hobbs said, “I feel amazing. I’m a vet. I am about to be 30 next year, and I feel like an old head out here. I’m not gonna lie, but man, it’s been a long year, and I’m just thankful to be able to make this team in the 100 and not in the relay pool, so I’m grateful.”
Kenny Bednarek blazed to a lifetime best 9.79 to win the men’s 100 and led a blanket finish for the next four places. Bednarek, a two-time Olympic silver medalist in the 200, powered out of the blocks and staved off late challenges from Courtney Lindsey (9.82) and T’Mars McCallum (9.83), who both set lifetime bests in second and third.
“I always knew I had the ability to do it, but I just had to believe in myself and this year, I feel like I started living up to my expectations,” Bednarek said.
His time put him equal sixth on the all-time U.S. performer list and is the second fastest time in the world this year. Trayvon Bromell (9.84) and Christian Coleman (9.86) missed the podium in fourth and fifth, and 18-year-old Georgian Maurice Gleaton tied the American U20 record and national high school record with a 9.92 in sixth.
Lindsey said, “A lot of people doubted me. A lot of people thought I was just gonna make the 200 team. So I wanted to come out and show I can make the 100 team too, and also go out and make the 200 team. This was a statement run.”
Scoring a pair of lifetime bests in the throws and a rapid trip over the 110 hurdles elevated Kyle Garland to No. 3 on the all-time U.S. performer list in the men’s decathlon, helping him tally 8,869 points. Garland trails only Ashton Eaton and Dan O’Brien on the national all-time list, and his performance puts him at No. 10 on the world all-time performer list. Winning his first U.S. title, Garland opened with a season best 13.78 to win the 110H, and then won the discus with a PB toss of 50.93/167-4. His huge breakthrough came in the javelin, where he used a favorable wind to help carry the spear out to 65.52/214-11, an improvement on his PB of more than 15 feet.
Last year’s champion, Heath Baldwin, grabbed the runner-up spot with 8,407, and Harrison Williams filled the other podium spot with a score of 8,223.
Anna Hall became the first woman to win four straight U.S. combined events titles since Pat Daniels in 1964, scoring 6,899 points to take heptathlon gold. Hall had a commanding lead after the first day and she kept up the momentum with a 6.32/20-9 long jump before launching a lifetime best 47.32/155-3 in the javelin, more than a meter farther than her previous PB. Digging deep over the final 120 in the 800, Hall won that event in 2:04.60 to put a cap on another outstanding effort by the No. 2 all-time world performer.
“I feel like every heptathlon has its own story,” Hall said. “This one feels really special, because I feel like this year I kind of got my spark back. Even though there’s quite a few events that didn’t go our way this weekend, I’m really proud of the mental strength that’s come from that. And I’m ready to apply that in the World Championship setting.”
Behind Hall, Taliyah Brooks had the meet of her life to score 6,526 points and meet the World Championships standard as she moved to No. 10 on the all-time U.S. performer list. Allie Jones was third with 6,164.
Sailing over 1.97/6-5.5 on her second attempt, Vashti Cunningham won her seventh U.S. outdoor title and 16th national indoor/outdoor crown in the women’s high jump. Perhaps more importantly, Cunningham met the World Championships qualifying standard. She was pushed all the way by Sanaa Barnes, who scored a big lifetime best with her first attempt clearance at 1.94/6-4.25 and earned silver. Bronze went to Emma Gates, who matched her PB at 1.91/6-3.25.
Returning to the top of the award stand after her streak of U.S. titles was broken last year by Charity Hufnagel, Cunningham said, “I just am blessed to be back on the top. It just was very rewarding to be able to stand here and say God did that.”
In third place going into the final round of the men’s long jump, Isaac Grimes spanned 8.15/26-9 on the antepenultimate jump of the competition to capture his first national title. Sporting a best of 8.10/26-7 from the fifth round, Grimes nailed the board and sailed out one centimeter farther than Will Williams’ wind-aided 8.14/26-8.5 from round four to seal the victory. Williams settled for silver, with Jarrion Lawson earning bronze at 8.12/26-7.75.
Acknowledging the special nature of a joint national championship meet with Para athletes, Grimes said, “I think it’s a big opportunity for them (Para athletes). They get to be in the same environment as us. They get the same crowd as us. I’m glad they get to have the experience that we have here at Hayward.”
Brandon Miller and 2019 champion Donavan Brazier led all qualifiers for the final of the men’s 800, and three-time defending champion Bryce Hoppel and this year’s fastest American, Josh Hoey, also easily advanced from the semifinals. Miller outkicked Brazier to take the first semi in 1:44.25, with Brazier just behind in 1:44.39, while Hoppel claimed the top spot in semi two at 1:45.31 and Hoey won the final semi in 1:44.37. In that second semi, Texas high schooler Cooper Lutkenhaus was clattered just after the bell and recovered to edge past Isaiah Jewett at the line and nab the second auto qualifier spot in 1:45.57.
Hoppel said, “It’s never an easy path to get to those 1:41s, I think I repeat over and over, it’s very difficult, but I think we’re gonna be ready. We learn from the past and we know what to do, and I think putting all the expertise together, I think we really do, especially with the team that we’re sending, have a shot at the medal this time with the U.S.”
On a quest for her third consecutive U.S. title in the women’s 800, Nia Akins took control of the first semifinal coming off the last bend and ran on to the fastest time of the day at 1:58.09 in front of four-time champion Ajee’ Wilson. Sage Hurta-Klecker took the second semi in 1:58.40 and Roisin Willis won semi three in 1:59.60 as 12 women broke 2:00 across the three sections.
“Everyone’s very close this year,” Hurta-Klecker said. “I’ve seen multiple races throughout the season, in races that I’ve been in, go either way with people. I think the finals, that’s the fun part. That’s when the big thing is on the line. There’s only three outcomes that are going to be satisfactory, but we’ll just see what happens.”
Two years after winning his first U.S. outdoor title, Bryce Deadmon sped to the fastest time overall in the men’s 400 semifinal with a 44.34 in semi one. Demarius Smith chopped more than .7 seconds off his lifetime best in second behind Deadmon, running 44.45. Vernon Norwood (44.78) and Jacory Patterson (44.63) were the other semi winners, and nine men cracked 45 seconds.
Knowing she basically just needed to break 51 seconds to advance to the final in the women’s 400, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone instead powered to a masterful 49.59 in the final section, the fastest time overall and the only sub-50 clocking. Other semifinal wins went to Isabella Whittaker, who took semi two in 50.07, and two-time champion Quanera Hayes, who won the first section in 50.76.
Full results are here.