End of the party in Eugene (Oregon) of the US Trials that also determine the composition of the very powerful American athletics team for the Tokyo Games. If the first day everything started with the impressive world weight record of Ryan Crouser and in the middle there have been exhibitions such as Trayvon Bromell (100), Grant Holloway (110 hurdles), Rai Benjamin (400 hurdles) or Gabby Thomas (200 meters), the final day came with strong emotions. Including the weather that forced part of the program to be delayed by 5 hours because the 44 degree temperature was too much even for these phenomena.
Among the athletes on the last day, most of the spotlight was directed at Erriyon Knighton, the 17-year-old prodigy who had just broken Usain Bolt’s U18 world record in 200 (20.11) and in the Trials he lowered it another two times, in series (20.03) and in semifinals (19.88). In the final he beat it again with 19.84 although he lost to Noah Lyles (world champion) who made 19.74 and Kenny Bednarek (19.78).
Another alien from the tracks is JuVaughn Harrison . ‘Mr. Jumps’ returned to shadow with two gold medals thanks to his victories in the high jump with 2.33 and long jump with 8.47 (personal best). The 22-year-old 1.93-year-old athlete is in full readiness to be an Olympic champion in Tokyo in both disciplines, something that would be historic.
The same name is used to refer to the future queen of the midfield: Athing Mu. The 19-year-old athlete from Trenton who some experts compare with the running of Alberto Juantorena swept the 800 with a time of 1: 56.07 (best world record of the year and his best double lap ever). Remember that Mu is also 49.57 in 400 meters.
WORLD RECORD
Among all the brands and characters of the last day there was a name that enters history with letters of gold. It is Sydney McLaughlin’s who achieved the best record of all time in the women’s 400 meter hurdles with 51.90. The 21-year-old New Jersey athlete has become the first woman to break the 52-second barrier after beating her compatriot Dalilah Muhammad’s time since the 2019 Doha World Cup.