EUGENE, Ore. — The U.S. Olympic track trials ended on a high note. Or, in this case, on a low note.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone world record lowered again in her signature event, the 400 meter hurdles. With her run of 50.65 seconds, she consolidated her position with Noah Lyles And Sha’Carri Richardson among the fantastic bets to bring home a medal or two for the US at the Paris Olympics.
“Super encouraging,” McLaughlin-Levrone said of her record run on a day she didn’t really expect. “Knowing that there is more and that more needs to be solved, just like a confidence boost.”
Sunday was only McLaughlin-Levrone’s fourth 400 hurdle race of the season, as she prepared to recover from a year of sprinting. She also has the world best time (48.75) in the regular 400 this year, which doesn’t do anything to the U.S. team’s already strong chances of winning the 4×400 relay at the end of the Olympic track meet.
Although the United States has won the most track and field medals at any Olympic Games since 1992, it took home just 26 in Tokyo. That was six fewer than the all-time record set four years earlier in Rio de Janeiro, although any hints of disappointment were largely suppressed by the difficulties of training for and competing in the Olympic Games that took place a year later and without fans in the stands due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the U.S. team largely locked in for Paris, here’s a look at where the medals could come from.
Lyles’ status as the favorite for the gold medal in the 100 took a slight hit when Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson ran 9.77 in his country’s national championship. Kenny Bednarek (100, 200), Erriyon Knighton (200) and Fred Kerley (100) all have legitimate chances to add to the sprints.
No one has run faster than Richardson in the 100 meters this year, and although she will not be racing in the 200, the US has a big name in this Gabby Thomas.
Best bet: Richardson in the women’s 100 meters. Don’t forget: Lyles. The US can win: 7 medals (2 of which are gold).
The Dutch Femke Bol is in top form and will not only give the gold medal to McLaughlin-Levrone. But she will have her hands full.
Rai Benjamin (400) and Holloway Award (110) should take home medals, it’s just a matter of which color. Benjamin will face world record holder Karsten Warholm of Norway, and Holloway, a three-time world champion, should carry that form into the Olympics, where he finished second last time.
Best guess: McLaughlin-Levrone. Don’t forget: Holloway. US could get: 6 medals (2 gold).
Always tricky here, because the depth of the US team means in theory it should win all four relays almost every time (make sure they’re all five, counting the 4×400 mixed).
But the Americans have a long history of problems with batons in the 4×100 – the men rolled the dice at the last Olympics and didn’t make the podium, but won last year’s world championships. Lyles has run the anchor leg in the last two major championship successes – in 2019 and ’23 – and should do so again this year.
This could be 800-meter specialist Athing Mu’s only chance to win a medal. Quincy Wilson, the 16-year-old high school senior from Maryland, is in the 4×400 relay pool.
Best bet: Women’s 4×400. Don’t forget: Women’s 4×100. USA could get: 4 medals (3 gold).
Mu crashes at the trials and missing the chance to defend her Olympic 800-meter title, it was in fact the U.S. team that gave away a medal. Nia Akins, the trials champion, could push her way to a podium finish.
Valerie Constien is a medal contender in the steeplechase and Cole Hocker in the 1,500 meters.
Best guess: Constien. Don’t forget: Nikki Hiltz and Elle St. Pierre. US could get: 2 medals (0 gold).
St. Pierre qualified in the 1,500 and 5,000, but her coach told her run Citius website she leaned toward running just the 1,500. Grant Fisher also has two chances for a medal by qualifying in the 5,000 and 10,000.
In the marathon, the Americans will not be favorites as none of the qualifiers this season have a time in the top 25.
Best guess: Fisher. Don’t forget: Weini Kelati out of 10,000. USA could get: 1 medal (0 gold).
Ryan Crouser and Joe Kovacs have gone 1-2 at the last two Olympics. Crouser, the world record holder, is recovering from a elbow condition and a torn pectoral muscle. Kovacs has the highest throw this season. On the women’s side, Raven Saunders is the reigning Olympic silver medalist, while Chase Jackson is a two-time world champion.
Defending champion Valarie Allman will again be a favorite in the discus, while Annette Echikunwoke and DeAnna Price can add medals in the hammer throw.
Best bets: Crouser and Kovacs. Don’t forget: Maggie Malone Hardin (javelin). USA could get: 6 medals (3 gold).
It’s hard to imagine anyone surpassing Olympic champion and world record holder Armand “Mondo” Duplantis in the pole vault. But Chris Nilsen (silver in Tokyo) and Sam Kendricks (bronze in Rio) could find their way to the podium.
Long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall is the most likely to win a vault event for the red, white and blue. She has the second longest jump this season. Pole vaulter Katie Moon will defend her Olympic title.
Best bets: Davis-Woodhall. Don’t forget: Jasmine Moore (long jump) and Rachel Glenn (high jump). USA could get: 5 medals (1 gold).
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Summer Olympics AP: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games