Masai Russell, Chase Jackson and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone were among the winners on the third day of the US Championships in Eugene on Saturday (2).
Olympic champion Russell was just a tenth of a second shy of the world record in winning the 100m hurdles in 12.22 (0.7m/s) – the second-fastest performance of her career behind the North American record of 12.17 she ran in Miami in May. She clocked 12.25 to win her heat and now has two of the seven fastest times in history to her name.
Russell secured her place for the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 along with runner-up Grace Stark (12.31) and third-place finisher Alaysha Johnson (12.36).
McLaughlin-Levrone was also impressive on the track – the world 400m hurdles record-holder focusing on the 400m this time. She won the flat one-lap event in 48.90 to book her place on the team for Tokyo along with Isabella Whittaker (49.59) and Aaliyah Butler (49.91).
Jacory Patterson won the men’s 400m in 44.16 from Chris Bailey (44.43) and Khaleb McRae (44.45).
Jackson will defend her world shot put title in Tokyo and she made a big statement in Eugene, throwing 20.84m for the third-best winning mark of her career behind the US record of 20.95m she achieved in June.
She surpassed 20 metres with all four of her valid attempts, backing up her 20.84m opening throw with marks of 20.56m, 20.50m and 20.21m. Maggie Ewen was second with 19.94m and Jessica Ramsey third with 19.56m.
Jasmine Moore, the double Olympic bronze medallist in the long jump and triple jump, won the latter event in Eugene with a 14.68m leap, while Austin Miller won the pole vault with a PB of 5.92m ahead of Sam Kendricks and Matt Ludwig (5.72m).
A dramatic men’s 1500m final was won by Jonah Koech as he stormed to the title in a PB of 3:30.17. He was followed by Ethan Strand (3:30.25 PB) and Olympic champion Cole Hocker (3:30.37), to deny Hobbs Kessler (3:31.12) and Yared Nuguse (3:31.34).
Nikki Hiltz also clinched 1500m victory, clocking 4:03.15 to win ahead of Sinclaire Johnson (4:03.77) and Emily Mackay (4:04.38) as they all booked their places on the team for Tokyo.
Results
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