A big night for Daniel Roberts, a narrow miss for Abby Steiner at U.S. track championships

Daniel Roberts on Sunday became the fifth athlete with ties to the University of Kentucky to qualify for next month’s world track and field championships by virtue of his performance last week in the U.S. championships in Eugene, Ore.

Roberts, who competed for UK from 2016 to 2019, won the men’s 110-meter hurdles in 13.05 seconds to earn his trip to Hungary in August.

Roberts joined former Wildcats Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Keni Harrison and Masai Russell in claiming top-three finishes at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field. Also headed to Budapest will be UK volunteer assistant coach Christian Coleman, who finished second in the men’s 100 meters.

McLaughlin won the women’s 400. Harrison and Russell finished second and third in the women’s 100 hurdles.

Roberts narrowly defeated Cordell Tinch (:13.08) and Freddie Crittenden (:13.23) for his victory.

Sunday was a challenging day for other athletes with ties to Kentucky.

Abby Steiner, defending U.S. champion in the 200 meters and a 2023 NCAA champion at UK, finished fourth in Sunday night’s women’s 200 finals and revealed afterward that she has been running this season with a bone spur in her left foot that might ultimately require surgery, according to her hometown newspaper, the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch.

“It was great to make it to the final, and when you are in the final anything can happen,” Steiner told FloSports after the race. “It’s been a long season for me, just battling some injuries. Making the team was a win, but also giving myself some time for recovery was a win too. Just got to take care of my body and get ready for next year.”

A 15-time All-American at Kentucky, Steiner won the 200 at this meet last year in 21.77 seconds. Her time of :22.07 on Sunday placed her behind Gabby Thomas (:21.60), Sha’Carri Richardson (:21.94) and Kayla White (:22.01).

Coleman, who starred as a sprinter at Tennessee, finished sixth Sunday in the men’s 200 meters in 19.95 seconds. Erriyon Knighton won the event in :19.72.

Also Sunday, Micaela Hazlewood (class of 2019) finished seventh in the women’s discus throw at 182 feet, 5 inches. Former Stanford All-American Valarie Allman delivered the winning throw of 222-0.

Ex-Cat Sha’keela Saunders (class of 2017) wound up 17^th in the women’s long jump at 18-11¾. Tara Davis-Woodhall, a former standout at Georgia and Texas, won the event with a leap of 22-6½.

Former Wildcat Josh Sobota came in ninth in the men’s shot put with a throw of 66 feet, 8¾ inches. Ryan Crouser, a two-time Olympic gold medalist from the University of Texas, won the event at 75 feet even.