Hardest roster to make in the world: 10 to watch at US Olympic track and field trials
Eugene, Oregon is the epicenter of U.S. track and field this month as hundreds of Olympic hopefuls assemble at Hayward Field with the hopes of stamping their ticket to Tokyo.
The anticipation for the U.S Track and Field Olympic Trials is palpable as the U.S. team is the hardest track and field roster to make in the world, plus athletes had to wait an additional year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
There are many emerging stars who will make their first Olympic team. Here are the top 10 storylines going into the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials in Eugene, where the top three in each event make the team for Tokyo, provided they have met the qualifying standard.
Oregon's state-of-the-art venue
After undergoing a $200 million renovation, Hayward Field exemplifies why Eugene is affectionately known as “Track Town, USA.” The dazzling facility at the University of Oregon is one of the best track and field venues in the world.
Hayward Field opened its doors in 1921 and has undergone several renovations, with the latest beginning in 2018. The venue could have been ready to open last spring, but the pandemic delayed its debut to April.
Eugene also will host the world championships in July 2022.
Sha'Carri Richardson: the sport's newest sprint sensation
Richardson, 21, decided to forgo her collegiate eligibility at LSU after she captured the 2019 NCAA title in the 100 meters as a freshman. She’s been superb in the sprints ever since.
Richardson is in the best shape of all U.S. women in the 100- and 200-meter field. She ranks No. 1 in the nation in the 100 (10.72 seconds) and 200 (22.00) heading into trials.
“Sha'Carri Richardson is killing it,” men’s hurdler Grant Holloway said. “I’m more so excited for her than anybody else.”
Will veteran Allyson Felix make her fifth Olympic team?
Felix, 35, is vying for her fifth and final Olympics. She is already one of the most decorated Olympians of all time.
Felix is the only women’s track and field athlete to win six Olympic gold medals and her nine overall medals are tied with Merlene Ottey for the most ever won by a woman in the sport.
The California native is slated to run the 200 and 400. She'll also be in the mix for a relay spot, having won gold in the 4x400 and 4x100 in Rio.
Felix was also part of the USA's 4x400 mixed relay team at the 2019 world championships in Doha that won gold.
The 4x400 mixed relay was first run at the World Relays in 2017. The event caught so much attention and praise at the 2019 world championships that it now will make its debut at the Olympics.
The configuration of Team USA’s 4x400 mixed relay squad will be established at the trials. The members likely will be selected from the Olympic qualifiers in the men’s and women’s 400.
Noah Lyles eyeing sprint double
Nine men have achieved the 100-meter and 200-meter double at the same Olympic Games, sweeping both gold medals: Archie Hahn (1904), Ralph Craig (1912), Percy Williams (1928), Eddie Tolan (1932), Jesse Owens (1936), Bobby Joe Morrow (1956), Valeriy Borzov (1972), Carl Lewis (1984) and Usain Bolt (2008, 2012, 2016).
Lyles could etch his name in illustrious company. He has personal-best times of 9.86 in the 100 and 19.50 in the 200. He could be a breakout star at the Tokyo Olympics after winning a world championship in the 200 in 2019.
Houlihan's absence in 1,500 and 5,000
One of the runners who will be the talk of the trials won't be racing in Eugene. Shelby Houlihan, the reigning national champion and American record-holder in the women's 1,500 and 5,000 meters, has been banned after testing positive for an anabolic steroid she believes she ingested in a burrito.
Houlihan's absence means the USA's Olympic medal chances in the middle distances take a hit. Last year she had the third-fastest time in the world at 5,000 meters (14:23.92) despite not being able to race much during the pandemic. She was fourth at the 2019 world championships in the 1,500 (3:54.99, an American record).
Karissa Schweizer, a teammate of Houlihan's at Bowerman Track Club, is the favorite in the 5,000 with the fastest qualifying time (14:26.34). Elle Purrier leads the 1,500 field after running 3:58.36 in May.
Men’s shot put battle
The men’s shot put might be the most competitive event at the trials.
“You got Ryan Crouser and Joe Kovacs both doing great things and Darrell Hill. I’m excited to see who all is going to be on the team,” Holloway said.
Crouser, the reigning Olympic champion, is putting up historic marks. His throw of 23.01 meters (75 feet, 6 inches) last month in Tucson, Arizona, was the best throw in the world since 1988.
The Oregon native is the Olympic favorite going into the trials. Former USA thrower Randy Barnes’ world shot put record of 23.12 (75 feet, 10 1/4 inches) could be in jeopardy.
“They are chipping away at the world record to make the team,” women’s discus thrower Whitney Ashley told USA TODAY. “That world record is going to fall very, very soon just wait.”
Is the women’s 800 the most competitive distance event?
The women’s 800 meters could be the most competitive distance event. Ajeé Wilson and Athing Mu enter as the two favorites. However, Oregon product Raevyn Rogers might have something to say about that as she runs in a stadium she’s all too familiar with.
“I want to see the youngster – Athing Mu – take on the veterans and the more established 800-meter runners,” NBC analyst Ato Boldon said.
Mu’s 1:57.73 is the second-fastest time in the world this year. The Texas A&M freshman phenom is fresh off NCAA individual titles in the 400 and 800.
Grant Holloway separating himself from field in men’s 110-meter hurdles
Reigning 110-meter hurdles world champion Grant Holloway is peaking at the right time. Holloway won his event at last month's American Track League meet in Jacksonville, Florida, finishing in 13.10 seconds. He has the second-fastest time in the world, behind 2016 Olympic champion Omar McLeod (13.01) of Jamaica.
Holloway, who competed at the University of Florida, enters the trials with the best qualifying time (13.07). He says he doesn’t have a specific time goal in mind for Eugene.
“I just want to go out there and just win,” Holloway told USA TODAY sports. “I think that’s the main thing. I’m not trying to chase times or worry about times. I’m just going to try to execute to the best of my ability. If I do that, the time is going to pop up on the scoreboard and I’m going to surprise myself.”
Who will get the three spots in a loaded women’s 400-meter hurdles?
The U.S. has some of the top 400-meter hurdlers in the world. Dalilah Muhammad won gold at the 2016 Olympics and 2019 world championships.
This year Muhammad will face plenty of competition in her quest to repeat, primarily from Sydney McLaughlin, Shamier Little and Ashley Spencer.
“Check us out in the world’s 400-meter hurdles. It’s gonna be a movie,” Spencer said.
All four women are capable of winning the event. McLaughlin’s 52.83 is the No. 1 time in the world this year.
“The 400 hurdles I think is probably the deepest out of all the events,” long jumper Brittney Reese said. “It’s so many women out there right now and what they are capable of doing is something crazy. So many great athletes and you don’t know who is gonna make the team. There are only three spots.”
Can Brittney Reese fend off up-and-coming long jumpers?
Reese, the 2012 Olympic long jump champion, is attempting to make her fourth and final Olympic team, and she wants to go out on top after finishing second at the 2016 Olympics.
“I’m looking to go out and put up a pretty decent performance,” Reese said. “I’m just looking forward to putting out a decent 7-meter jump and make my last Olympics.”
Reese, who is a six-time USA outdoor champion, will face plenty of competition, including from promising jumper Tara Davis.
It’s going to take at least 7 meters to place in the top two.
Contributing: Tom Schad
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Noah Lyles, Allyson Felix, storylines at Olympic track, field trials
