Sports
US Track & Field Olympic trials live updates: Gabby Thomas wins 200m, Sha’Carri is 4th
Sha’Carri Richardson’s triumphant road to Paris Olympics
Sha’Carri Richardson has made a spectacular comeback, claiming her spot for the Paris Olympics with a world-leading time in the 100-meter dash.
Scripps News Morning Rush
Saturday is a big day at the U.S. track & field Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon. There are eight finals on this penultimate day of competition, including the one everyone has been waiting for: the 200-meter final.
Sha’Carri Richardson did not claim one of the coveted top 3 spots in the 200 for an automatic bid to her first Olympic Games. Richardson fell behind winner Gabby Thomas, Brittany Brown and NCAA champion McKenzie Long.
For the men’s 200, Noah Lyles will try to fend off Erriyon Knighton, Kenny Bednarek and Christian Coleman for the title.
Check back here for live updates from USA TODAY Sports’ reporters on the ground at the trials.
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Weini Kelati wins women’s 10,000 meters
Kelati took the lead in the final lap and was able to hold off the other runners.
Kelati won the 10,000, crossing the line with a time of 31:41.07. She was the only distance runner with the Olympic standard in the 10,000.
Florida’s Parker Valby placed second, running a 31:41.56. Karissa Schweizer came in third with a time of 31:41.56.
The conversion everyone is searching for during the U.S. Track & Field Olympic trials. Well, here’s your answer: 10,000 meters is 6 miles, 376 yards, or 6.213712 miles.
Gabby Thomas ran the fastest 200-meter time in the world on Friday. On Saturday, Thomas stamped her ticket to Paris, clocking a first-place time of 21.81.
Running out of lane eight, Thomas led around the turn and finished in first about two strides ahead of the rest of the field.
Brittany Brown’s 21.90 was good enough for second and NCAA 100 and 200 champion McKenzie Long came in third, running a 21.91.
Sha’Carri Richardson, who won the 100 at the trials, came in fourth. Read more about the women’s 200 meter final results at the U.S. Track & Field Olympic trials.
McKenzie Long, inspired by mom, earns spot on Olympic team in 200
Long is running in memory of her mother, Tara Jones, who died unexpectedly of a heart attack at just 45 right before the season started.
At the NCAA championships, an emotional Long told reporters she talks to her mom every day, and when she got in the blocks for her final race, “I told her, ‘Mom this is my last race, push me through’ — and she did.” Read the full story from USA TODAY Sports’ Lindsay Schnell.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone cruises in semis
McLaughlin-Levrone told NBC she was just “feeling it out” after the women’s 400-meter hurdles semifinal round.
Her feeling out process was good enough to win her heat by nearly two seconds. McLaughlin-Levrone cruised to a 52.48 to easily win her first heat. It’s the fastest time in the world this year.
McLaughlin-Levrone already owns the world record in the 400-meter hurdles (50.68). Former world-record holder and Olympic gold medalist in the event, Dalilah Muhammad, ran a 54.16 to finish second.
Both runners qualified for Sunday’s final.
Most events Saturday are scheduled for the evening session, which begins at 7:30 p.m. ET. Only the race walk finals are in the morning session, beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Here is the full schedule:
DAY 9 morning session: Saturday, June 29
10:30 a.m. – M 20 km race walk final
10:31 a.m. – W 20 km race walk final
DAY 9 evening session: Saturday, June 29
7:30 p.m. – M discus final
8:04 p.m. – W 100m hurdles semifinals
8:20 p.m. – W long jump final
8:27 p.m. – W 200m final
8:41 p.m. – W 400m hurdles semifinal
8:50 p.m. – W shot put final
9:09 p.m. – W 10,000m final
9:49 p.m. – M 200m final
All events are streamed live on Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com and the NBC and NBC Sports apps. NBC will broadcast Saturday’s finals from 8-10 p.m.
WATCH: 2024 U.S. Track & Field Olympic Trials FREE on Fubo
Alaysha Johnson, Tonea Marshall, Masai Russell all run 12.36 in 100-meter hurdle semis
Christina Clemons and Keni Harrison took the two automatic qualifying spots in the first heat of the women’s 100-meter hurdles. Clemons and Harrison both ran a 12.52. But upon review, Clemons was deemed the winner by a slight margin.
Ironically, Alaysha Johnson and Tonea Marshall also crossed the finish line with the exact same time of 12.36 to pace the second semifinal heat. Johnson was named the winner after the review.
Masai Russell also posted a 12.36 to win the third and final semifinal heat.
Johnson, Marshall and Russell have the top qualifying times entering Sunday’s final at 8 p.m. ET.
Grant Holloway made a statement in the men’s 110-meter hurdles at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials.
Holloway got out of the blocks quick, was in the lead at the first hurdle and led the entire way over each hurdle and crossed the finish line in a world-leading time of 12.86 seconds. It’s the second-fastest time he’s ever run in what was a very fast final. It was the first time in history that a single 110-meter hurdles race had three sub-13 second finishers, per NBC Sports. Read all about the race and who finished behind Holloway.
There are so many entertaining finals happening Saturday night and Sunday. Don’t miss any of them. Here’s a list of the biggest events to look forward to as the Olympic track and field trials come to a close.
Gabby Thomas, the defending Olympic bronze medalist in the 200 meters, clocked the fastest 200 time in the world this year to win her semifinal heat Friday, running a 21.78. The 21.83 world-leading time she broke belonged to McKenzie Long, a star at Ole Miss, who won her semifinal heat as well. And Richardson won her heat by tying her personal best time of 21.98, setting up a showdown in today’s final. See what Thomas and Richardson said after their semifinal victories.
You read that right, and no you have not taken a time machine back to 2008. Lolo Jones, 41, finished last in the fourth heat of the women’s 100-meter hurdles Friday night at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials at Hayward Field. She also got the biggest cheer from the crowd. Due to the high number of scratches in the women’s hurdles, all competitors in the heats advanced. So, Jones willl compete again in Saturday’s semifinal.
“If I wake up tomorrow and don’t need my cane, we’re going!” said Jones, who last competed at the Olympic track and field trials in 2012 and ran in the Drake Relays in April. She also joked she made it through the race because of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory Teradol. “The official sponsors of 40 year olds!” Read more from USA TODAY Sports reporter Lindsay Schnell.
The women’s 200 final is scheduled for 8:27 p.m. ET. Richardson qualified with a time of 21.92. It is the second fastest time entering the final. Gabby Thomas’ 21.78 is the fastest time entering Saturday’s final. Thomas has the fastest time in the world this year.
Richardson is running out of lane six. Thomas is set to run out of lane eight.
When does Noah Lyles run?
The men’s 200 final is slated for 9:49 p.m. ET.
Lyles’ 19.60 is the top qualifying mark entering the finals. The defending 200 world champion is running out of lane six.
Erriyon Knighton, Kenny Bednarek and Christian Coleman are the other athletes to watch in the 200.
When does Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone run?
The semifinals in the women’s 400-meter hurdles are scheduled for 8:41 p.m. ET.
McLaughlin-Levrone is in the first heat and running out of lane six. McLaughlin-Levrone is the world-record holder and defending Olympic champion in the event.
Results for all events of the Olympic trials
If you missed any of the events this week or last, we have you covered with a list of results for the top 3 finishers in each event who will be get an automatic bid to the Paris Olympics.