The US Trials--1st 3 Days

 It's all done, but what a spectacle!!
Instead of my usual "Records first, then other great marks", I'm going to report this in strict chronological order, including information on heats, semis, finals, and field event qualifying!
Enjoy!

June 18--Day One
Action at the new Hayward Field opened with a bang!
Ryan Crouser served up a SP of 75-2.50 to easily lead the Q round!
It was the Meet Record!
Joe Kovacs Put (Sic!) one out there also--71-6.75!

The Men's Hammer Throw Q round was tamer, with Rudy Winkler hitting 259-7, with Daniel Haugh going 254-9, and Alex Young also above 250, with 252-11.
Sean Donnelly was out with 3 fouls!

Valarie Allman showed she's in a class by herself, her 229-8 Q mark setting a Meet Record!!
Laulauga Tausaga didn't advance!

Jenny Simpson led the 1500 heats with 4:11.34.
Elle Purrier St Pierre--the favorite--was 5th in 4:11.78!

Wadeline Jonathas led the Women's 400 heats with 50.64!
Momma Allyson Felix ran 50.99 in 4th to advance!
Courtney Okolo's 52.37 left her out of it!

All the necessary Women's HJ'ers advanced to the final, but Tynita Butts Townsend couldn't make it through!

Trevor Stewart led the 400 heats with his 44.75!
Michael Norman cruised through in 4th with 45.18!

Donovan Brazier and Brannen Kidder went 1-2 in the 800 heats--1:45.00 and 1:45.06!

Abbey Cooper pulled a Prefontaine on Pre's old turf, powering through a 15:07.80 5000 to get her needed Q time for the Olympics--just in case!
Even if she doesn't win, she won people's hearts!
A really genuine moment!

Keturah Orji led TJ Qualifying with 46-10.75!

Ryan Crouser has been consistent for years now!
This consistency at the highest level--a long series of meets ranging from 73 to 75 feet--made a WR a foregone conclusion!
So when his tall rangy body raced across the Shot Put ring, and the 16 pound ball flew out 76-8.25, we were all thrilled, but not entirely shocked!
He'd done it!
Crushed that controversial WR of Randy Barnes into oblivion!
Add the American Record and the Meet Record and the Age 28 Record!
Joe Kovacs reached 73-3.50--what USED to be a winnable distance!
In 3rd came Payton Otterdahl, hhis PR of 71-11 sending him to Tokyo, and making him 16th A-T US!
Darrell Hill just missed with his 71-10, while Josh Awotunde threw 71-8, making him 18th A-T US!

The heats of the Women's 100 saw Sha'Carri Richardson power far ahead over the last 50 meters, timing 10.84!
Javianne Oliver timed 10.96, with Kayla White also dipping under 11 with a 10.99.
Gabby Thomas crossed the line in 11.00!

Ending Day One was the Men's 10000!
The Bowerman TC duo of Woody Kincaid and Grant Fisher went 1-2, times of 27:53.82 and 27:54.29!
Joe Klecker was 3rd in 27:54.90.
Ben True had a ton of online supporters, but ended in the dreaded 4th position, time of 27:58.80!
Galen Rupp will run the Olympic Marathon, but not the 10000, as his 27:59.43 made him 6th!

June 19--Day Two
Day Two began drily, with Marc Anthony Minichello leading the Men's JT Q with a measly 251-5.

Cole Walsh was the only significant name Pole Vaulter to not advance!

The Women's 100H have always been super competitive!
It remained so here!
Kendra (I can't bring myself to call her Keni!) Harrison led the charge with a 12.49 heat time!
The "provisionally banned" Brianna McNeal was 2nd in 12.50.
Taliyah Brooks was 3rd in 12.61.
Not making it was the much-decorated Super Vet Dawn Harper-Nelson!!

The Men's TJ Q round was blah!

Trayvon Bromell led the 100 heats with a 2.7W aided 9.89!
Using a legal 1.9 were 2nd & 3rd placers Ronnie Baker (9.88) and Fred Kerley (9.93)!
Justin Gatlin was in Bromell's windy race, running 9.93!
Teen Jaylen Slade didn't advance!

The Women's 100 Semis followed!
And the youngster literally blew everyone else off the track!
A wind of 2.6 negated the 10.64 blast of Sha'Carri Richardson, but perhaps showed that her series of 10.7's with legal wind were serious and believable!
Javianne Oliver used a 2.3 wind to propel her to a 10.83.
Teahna Daniels was in Sha'Carri's semi, her time being 10.84!
Aleia Hobbs false started, and was seen curled up against the wall, head in arms!
Cambrea Sturgis, Twanisha Terry, and Tianna Bartoletta were all eliminated!

The Women's 1500 Semis saw Nikki Hiltz lead the way in 4:05.87.
Cory McGee was closest with 4:05.96.
Elle Purrier St Pierre ran 4:09.18 in 7th, while Vet of Vets Jenny Simpson was 9th in 4:09.92!

Valarie Allman stayed consistent--almost to the inch!--as her 229-5 DT winner fell just 3 inches shy of the MR she set in the Q round!
Michaele Hazlewood surprised in 2nd with 205-2, making her 23rd A-T US!
Rachel Dincoff's 197-8 was 3rd!

Bryce Hoppel led the 800 Semis with a slowish 1:46.08!
Brandon Miller and Erik Sowinski didn't advance!

Jessica Beard, Phyllis Francis, and Natasha Hastings did NOT make it to the Women's 400 Final!!
But Quanera Hayes (50.07), Wadeline Jonathas (50.24), and Allyson Felix (51.01 in 6th) did!

The two Michaels led the Men's 400 Semis, with Cherry running 44.50, and Norman cruising 44.73.
The iconic LaShawn Merritt didn't advance!

The Women's 100 Final began with a shock!
The thought to be FS'ed Aleia Hobbs was there in lane 9!!
She'd been reinstated!
Ms Richardson took care of business as only she can, winning easily in 10.86.
Javianne Oliver was 2nd in 10.99.
Teahna Daniels was 3rd in 11.03!
Fourth went to Jenna Prandini's 11.11, while Gabby Thomas was 5th in 11.15!
Ms Hobbs must have been emotionally drained, as she took up the rear!

June 20--Day Three
Following the pattern of the throwing events here--especially the WR of Ryan Crouser--Rudy Winkler had been very consistent all season in the Hammer Throw!
So when he FINALLY removed the venerated Lance Deal from the American Record book after 25 years, it wasn't too surprising!!
He set sail the Ball and Chain 271-4 out from the ring, ending Deal's reign as not only the AR holder, but as the Eugene & Hayward Field Record holder!
His AR & MR makes him 20th A-T World!!
He inspired Daniel Haugh to a throw of 260-5, making him 6th A-T US!
And Alex young also PR'ed, his 256-11 making him 11th A-T US!

Vashti Cunningham took the Women's HJ with a 6-5 clearance!
Inika McPherson was 2nd with 6-4.
Also getting 6-4's were 3rd placer Nicole Greene and 4th placer Rachel McCoy!

Keturah Orji broke the Trials Meet Record with her TJ of 47-7.75!
Tori Franklin took 2nd with 47-1.50!
And young Jasmine Moore kept to the formchart with her 3rd place mark of 46-5.25!

As expected, the 100H Semis were tight!
Tonea Marshall won it in 12.50, with Kendra Harrison 2nd in the same time!
Close behind was 3rd placer Christina Clemons (formerly Manning), whose 12.51 makes her 19th A-T US, tied with 1 other!
Brianna McNeal finished 4th in 12.56!
Anna Cockrell took 5th with 12.59!
Not advancing were Queen Claye, Kristi Castlin, and Shericka Nelvis!

The Men's 100 Semis went by the books, with Trayvon Bromell running 9.90, Fred Kerley 2nd in 9.92, and Ronnie Baker in 3rd in 9.94.
Also making the Final were Noah Lyles, who ended 5th in 9.97, and Justin Gatlin, 6th in 10.00!

The Women's 3000SC Semis were fast, with the first six getting under 9:30.
Emma Coburn led the charge with 9:21.32, with Leah Falland 2nd in 9:23.36!
Grayson Murphy PR'ed with 9:25.37, making her 10th A-T US!
Courtney Wayment--recently of BYU--ran 9:27.17, making her 12th A-T US!
That other Courtney--Frerichs--was a comfortable 5th in 9:27.75!
And Val Constien's 9:28.37 was in 6th place!

Allyson Felix will be going to her FIFTH Olympic Games!!
2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, and soon to be, 2021
But it was Quanera Hayes leading the way with a brilliant 49.78!
Felix's 50.02 broke Novlene Williams-Mills's Age 35 Record!!
Wadeline Jonathas took 3rd with 50.03, being edged out by Felix near the finish!
Kendell Ellis was 4th in 50.10!
And new 400 "find"--Kaylin Whitney--PR'ed again, this time to 50.29!

Randolph Ross remained this season's sole sub-44 man, as the 400 Final went to the 44.07 of Michael Norman!
Michael Cherry took 2nd in 44.35!
And Mr Ross was a far back 3rd in 44.74!

The Decathlon ended with the top 3 all making big advances on their PR's!
Garrett Scantling put it all together, scoring a big 8647 points!
He is just 20 points shy of my World list!
This makes him 8th A-T US!
Steve Bastien raised his best by several hundred points, his 8485 making him 11th A-T US!
Just behind the surprising Bastien came Zach Ziemek's 8471.
This makes him 12th A-T US!
Harrison Williams took a solid 4th with 8306 points!

When it came down to the Final, the WR holder came through as only the WR holder should!
Kendra Harrison ran 12.47, with Brianna McNeal taking 2nd in 12.51.
Christina Clemons was 3rd in 12.53!
Also running 12.53 was 4th placer Gabbi Cunningham!
Nothing's been announced, but if McNeal is banned, Cunningham would probably be added to the Tokyo bound team!!
BTW, her time makes her 22nd A-T US, tied with 1 other!

The third day ended with the Men's 100 Final!
And Mr Bromell came through again!
His 9.80 beat the 9.85 of Ronnie Baker!
This makes Baker 6th A-T US, tied with 3 others, and 14th A-T World, tied with 4 others!
The "converted" 400 meter man--Fred Kerley--took 3rd in 9.86.
This makes him 10th A-T US, tied with 3 others, and 19th A-T World, tied with a whopping 9 others!
Kenny Bednarek ran good in 4th, his 9.89 making him 17th A-T US, tied with 3 others!
Continuing the attack on the Record Book was Micah Williams, whose 9.91 makes him 21st A-T US, tied with 2 others!

To be continued!