© Copyright – 2024 – Athletics Illustrated

Many nations around the world held their Paris Olympic Trials over the week or weekend capping the month of June. The USATF Trials are different than most because in all events athletes need to finish top three at the Trials or they are not going to compete in Paris.

There is more to the process, however, global rankings matter. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) caps the number of competitors for each event. Meanwhile, a maximum of three qualified athletes per event per country may compete in the Olympic Games. Competitors must also better the Olympic standard with exceptions, depending on the global rankings.

It is the IOC’s discretion to invite additional athletes where space permits.

Aside from the fall by defending 800m Olympic champion, Athing Mu, the USATF Olympic Trials were outstanding for the country and provided the highest level of performance for the US outside of the world championships and Olympic Games. Mu’s fall puts her out of the Games, even after a protest and appeal, both of which were turned down. As expected, sprinter Noah Lyles and hurdler Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone brought the show.

Noah Lyles

Noah Lyles dominated the 200-metre distance during the 2024 USATF Paris Olympic Trials and surpassed Michael Johnson’s meet record clocking 19.53 to outclass the entire field. It is the world-leading time for 2024. Finishing second was Kenny Bednarek in 19.59 in a new personal best time. Young Erriyon Knighton clocked a season’s best 19.77. All three will be going to Paris.

Christian Coleman clocked his best run of 2024 but finished fourth in the time of 19.89. Seven years ago he set his PB at 19.85. Coleman’s forte is the 100m. He sports a 9.76 best from 2019.

Lyles owns the national record in the 200m at 19.31. The world record is 19.19 by Usain Bolt of Jamaica.

The IOC has capped the event at 48 starters for next month’s Paris Olympic Games. The standard is 20.16. Athletes need to gain points to bolster their global ranking, run sub 20.16 and finish top three at the Trials. Currently, Coleman is ranked 23rd in the world, however, each nation can send only three athletes per event.

Lyles also won the 100m event when he set a new personal best of 9.83 seconds.

Again Bednarek finished second in a new PB of 9.87 seconds. Fred Kerley took third in 9.88. And again Coleman took fourth. He clocked a 9.93-second performance. Coleman could be named as an alternate for three events, the 100m, 200m and 4 x 100m.

Will Canada’s Andre de Grasse be a factor in August? He seems to round into form for the big stage right on time, however, he has run identical performances in the 100m and 200m during the Canadian Olympic Trials at 10.00 and 20.09, respectively. Is he saving himself for Paris? He just may be.

POSNAMERESULT
1Noah Lyles19.53 WL MR
2Kenny Bednarek19.59 PB
3Erriyon Knighton19.77 SB
4Christian Coleman19.89 SB
5Kyree King19.90 PB
6Courtney Lindsey20.00
7Robert Gregory20.56
8Jeremiah Curry20.57
9Jamarion Stubbs20.60
POSNAMEMARK
1Noah Lyles9.83 =PB
2Kenny Bednarek9.87 PB
3Fred Kerley9.88 SB
4Christian Coleman9.93
5Christian Miller9.98
6Courtney Lindsey10.02
7Brandon Hicklin 10.03
8Kendal Williams 10.04
9JT Smith10.22

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone improved the 400m hurdles world record to 50.65. It was the fifth time in the last four years that she has broken the record. The now 24-year-old had set the record on the same Hayward Field in Eugene, OR during the 2022 World Athletics Championships where she clocked 50.68.

Taking second was Anna Cockrell in 52.64 with a new PB and Jasmine Jones in 52.77 also in a new PB. It was not even close. McLaughlin-Levrone, who is coached by Bobby Kersee, is in a league of her own. She is the defending Olympic champion from Tokyo with her 51.46 win.

Femke Bol from the Netherlands with the European record at 51.45, will have to find a whole new gear to push McLaughlin-Levrone. Bol, also age 24 earned the bronze at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Dalilah Muhammad took silver in Tokyo but only finished sixth at the Trials clocking in a slow-for-her 54.27.

Post-race McLaughlin-Levrone admitted that she would like to get under 50 seconds, she is not sure when or if it will happen, but the benchmark was until recently considered unthinkable.

A maximum of 40 athletes will be taken globally. The standard is 54.85. Six Americans ran under the standard in Eugene.

POSNAMERESULT
1Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone50.65 WR
2Anna Cockrell52.64 PB
3Jasmine Jones52.77 PB
4Shamier Little52.98 SB
5Rachel Glenn53.46 PB
6Dalilah Muhammad54.27
7Akala Garrett 55.01
8Cassandra Tate55.37
9Sydni Townsend 55.47

Weini Kelati

The former Eritrean ran the race she needed to win the USATF Paris Olympic Trials to put herself on the team. She won in the time of 31:41.07, with a late race kick. Until the final lap, she appeared to be happy just to finish top three, as she already had the Olympic standard of sub-30:40.

On March 16, she ran her personal best, clocking 30:33.82. This will not be fast enough to contend for a medal, however, often an Olympic event brings out the very best in an athlete. Only 27 women will toe the line in Paris in the 10,000m event.

As covered already by Athletics Illustrated, Parker Valby, fresh from the NCAA did something that she rarely will and that is sit and kick. While she surprised many with her race strategy, the kick was more of a surge, but she kept herself in the mix right to the line clocking a 31:41.56, which was the identical time to Karissa Schweizer — Valby got the nod. It was an exciting three-women race.

The temperatures were warm on race day, and the race was tactical. Perhaps all three are capable of a time closer to 30:00. They will need to be able to surge throughout the 25-lap race to finish within site of the East Africans.

On April 11, Valby ran her PB of 30:50.43. So, she still hasn’t breached the benchmark. She is currently ranked 35th in the world. Kelati is ranked 18th and Schweizer 37th. There are several Americans ranked ahead including Alicia Monson who sits fifth primarily based on her 30:03.82 from her March 4th, 2023 performance.

POSNAMERESULT
1Weini Kelati31:41.07
2Parker Valby31:41.56 31:41.553
3Karissa Schweizer31:41.56 31:41.557
4Jessica McClain32:04.57
5Amanda Vestri32:11.00
6Kellyn Taylor32:12.02 SB
7Maggie Montoya32:13.26
8Erika Kemp 32:21.84
9Elena Henes32:25.17
10Keira D’Amato 32:25.77
11Carrie Verdon32:28.07
12Natosha Rogers32:28.70
13Katie Izzo32:30.31
14Susanna Sullivan32:42.12
15Katrina Coogan32:43.04
16Olivia Pratt 32:44.42
17Emily Lipari 32:52.99
18Amy Davis32:54.72
19Katie Camarena32:58.80
20Anne-Marie Blaney33:00.53
21Jessica Gockley-Day33:02.64
22Stephanie Bruce33:32.62
DNFRachel Smith 
DNSAlyson Churchill 

Bryce Hoppell

Bryce Hoppell brought his A-game to the USATF Olympic Trials. Not only did he devastate the field, but he set a new lifetime best in a very strong international time of 1:42.77. Hobbs Kessler also set a new PB at 1:43.64 but was thoroughly bettered. Brandon Miller took third in 1:43.97.

World champion Marco Aarop from Canada has a best of 1:42.87 and just cruised to an easy 1:43.71 win at the Canadian Olympic Trials. Having the ability to run sub-1:44 puts any 800m runner in the conversation of a final at a global championships. Once in the final, anything can and often does happen.

Kenya has dominated the Olympic 800m event winning seven of a possible 12 medals since the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games with four consecutive golds. Can Hoppell and Aarop put up a North American challenge for the podium?

POSNAMERESULT
1Bryce Hoppel1:42.77 MR PB
2Hobbs Kessler1:43.64 PB
3Brandon Miller1:43.97
4Josh Hoey1:44.12 PB
5Jonah Koech1:44.32 PB
6Shane Cohen1:44.65 PB
7Clayton Murphy1:44.80 SB
8Abraham Alvarado1:44.90
9Tinoda Matsatsa1:45.70

Nikki Hiltz

Like Hoppell, Hiltz brought her A-game, clocking a new PB and meet record in the 1500m event. She ran 3:55.33, which puts her into the conversation for an Olympic final and potentially a medal. Right behind her were Emily Mackey in 3:55.90 and Elle St. Pierre in 3:55.99. Eight of the 12 finishers ran new PBs.

The performance moves Hiltz to 11th in global rankings. Four of the women in front of her are Ethiopian, and one of them cannot go.

The Olympic standard is 4:02.50. Eight of the 12 competitors breached the standard during the US Trials. In the metric mile, 45 women and 45 men will start.

POSNAMERESULT
1Nikki Hiltz3:55.33 MR PB
2Emily Mackay3:55.90 PB
3Elle St. Pierre3:55.99 PB
4Sinclaire Johnson3:56.75 PB
5Cory McGee3:57.44 PB
6Elise Cranny 3:57.87 PB
7Heather MacLean 3:58.31 PB
8Helen Schlachtenhaufen3:59.71 PB
9Dani Jones4:04.14
10Christina Aragon4:06.54
11Addy Wiley4:06.59
12Maggi Congdon4:08.45

Complete results