What you might have missed at the US Olympic track trials: NPR

Eugene, Ore. – Olympians were born and a world record was broken. The U.S. Olympic track and field team was finalized after a 10-day meet at Hayward Field. It offered a preview of the power to come when the Paris Games begin in less than a month.

Here are some highlights from the Olympic trials that concluded on Sunday.

Stars to see in Paris

Sydney McLaughlin-LevronHis biggest competition is himself. He On Sunday, he broke his own world record in the 400m hurdles with a timing of 50.65 seconds. This is slightly lower than his time of 50.68 set at the same track two years ago.

After crossing the finish line, a look of surprise was visible on his face.

“I was a little surprised that it didn’t come with the best stride pattern,” she told reporters after her accomplishment. “But definitely still grateful to know that the fitness is there and there’s a lot more we can work on.”

She will aim to raise her level again at the Paris Games.

“I’d love to go under 50 (seconds) at some point,” she said. “There’s something really exciting about trying to figure out how to improve history, you know, in whatever capacity.”

The 24-year-old began her Olympic journey in Rio eight years ago and earned a gold medal in the 400m hurdles and another medal in the 4x400m team in Tokyo.

That said, representing the United States as an Olympian isn’t old.

“It’s like reliving that childhood dream all over again. I don’t take it lightly.”

athlete sha’cary richardson Hayward had a lot to prove. He was banned from competing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for THC. He blamed his marijuana use for the recent death of his mother and the pressure on him to perform: “I’m human,” he said on social media at the time.

And prove that he did it. In Eugene, her 100 meter dash secured her spot on Team USA. However, his attempt to make the 200 meters his second event failed after finishing fourth.

it was gabby thomas, britney brown And mackenzie long Who dominated the 200 meters to earn their place at the Paris Games.

Thomas earned a bronze medal in the 200 m event in Tokyo and won a silver medal with the 4×100 m relay team. This time the new thing for them is that the crowd will be present to encourage them.

“I’m a bit of an introvert, so I get easily distracted and overwhelmed by a lot of people, but I think it will be fun,” she said after the final on Saturday.

But she also says she has always thrived under pressure – a skill she has honed since Tokyo.

“I take solace in knowing that when I stepped over the line today, I was thinking, you know, I’ve proven to myself that I can do this,” she said.

Meanwhile, Brown and Long are headed to the Olympics for the first time. Long is drawing strength from her late mother, who died unexpectedly in February.

“Knowing that I’m an Olympian now is pretty surreal,” he told reporters after the race. “And I know my mom is smiling from cheek to cheek.”

Noah Lyles, Kenny Bednarek And fred kerley All qualified for the US in the 100 meters. Lyles is by far the leader in both pace and personality; The 26-year-old has made headlines for sharing his love for anime by busting out a growing suit of Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading cards from his suit after each round.

Lyles would double in Paris: he also won the 200 m final at the trials. But he won’t celebrate until he gets the gold.

“It’s absolutely fine, great, I got the job done, I’m excited about it, let’s keep going, keep pushing,” he told reporters.

In 110 obstacles, Grant Holloway, Daniel Roberts And freddie crittenden Made history. This was the first time that three men had crossed the finish line of the 110 meters hurdles in less than 13 seconds.

There is already talk of a trio of Olympic podium sweeps.

“I mean, we’ve already put it out there,” Holloway told reporters after running his second-fastest time in Saturday’s final. “Speaking for myself, I think we’re exactly where we need to be.”

stylish shot put specialist raven saunders During his appearance at the trial he wore a mask he described as the Day of the Dead.

“It’s a way to show people that I’m back, that I never left,” said Saunders, who identifies by they/them pronouns after finishing second.

A fan favorite in Tokyo, the Olympic silver medalist was suspended last year after failing some drug tests.

Saunders used the forced break to focus on himself.

“I really took it as just having more time to be able to work, more time to be able to make this Olympic team and focus on my mental health,” he said.

chase jackson, a shot-putter known for wearing elaborate eye makeup on the field and sharing her love of anime with Lyles, finished first ahead of Saunders. She is making the Olympic team for the first time.

a big break

on Saturday night, veni kelati Sprinted down the track in the final stages of the women’s 10,000 meters race, claimed the lead, lost it and then broke the lead one last time to win.

Kelati, speaking to reporters after her win, said, “I had to be patient, because I knew I had that speed, I had that kick, because I was working on that.”

It is the latest chapter in the 27-year-old’s remarkable journey. In 2014, Kelati was competing for her native Eritrea in East Africa on the same track. During the international competition, Kelati sought asylum, fleeing the political turmoil in his country. She was a teenager at the time and left her family and friends and settled in America as a refugee. Ten years later, Kelati’s victory secured her spot on the US team for the Summer Olympics.

“This is crazy, I’m going to take action on this soon,” she said. “Right now, I can’t believe it. I’m speechless.”

Kelati says he is proud to compete for his adopted country, but that his family in Eritrea will also support him.

“They’re watching. Every time I run, wherever I go they follow me, they watch my race,” she said.

a heartbreaker

the price of a fall in the same race athing mu Her Olympic bid. A quarter of the way through the 800 meters, the reigning gold medalist stumbled and fell, ending her chances of making the U.S. team. nia akins Won with a personal best time of 1:57.36.

“It’s hard to watch, especially for someone like Ething, who you know can win a gold medal,” the 400m hurdler rai benjamin told NBC from the sidelines on Monday. “You feel for him, because he should be there, you know? But that’s just USA Track & Field. It’s the hardest team to make and anything can happen here.”

NPR’s Brian Mann contributed to this story.