Written by Owen Mittenthal of Armory Track
The U.S. Olympic Team Trials were held from June 18th-27th in Eugene, Oregon, bringing the best athletes in the nation together for the right to compete at the Olympic Games in Tokyo next month. While the athletes battled extreme heat over the latter half of the competition, the performances were no less incredible, highlighted by two world records and several other top all-time performances. Over 100 athletes punched their tickets to Tokyo by placing in the top three in their events, including 48 athletes who have competed at the Millrose Games during their careers, and 23 Millrose Games Champions.
Elinor Purrier-St. Pierre first announced herself as a world-class runner at the 2020 Millrose Games, where she won the Wanamaker Mile in 4:16.85, the second fastest time ever run indoors. In Eugene, Purrier-St. Pierre dominated the 1500m from the front, setting a Trials record of 3:58.03 to make her first Olympic team. Purrier-St. Pierre appears poised to dominate U.S. middle distance running for years to come, and she looks to be one of the favorites to medal in Tokyo. She will be joined on Team USA by Cory McGee, who won the Millrose high school mile in 2010, and Heather MacLean, who placed sixth in the 2020 Wanamaker Mile won by Purrier-St. Pierre.
Ryan Crouser set the tone for the competition early in the men’s shot put, uncorking a massive throw of 23.37 meters to smash the world record by nearly a foot. Crouser, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist, is also the back-to-back Millrose Champion, winning in 2019 and 2020. In both competitions, Crouser was followed in second by defending World Champion and Olympic silver medalist Joe Kovacs. The two superstar throwers will attempt to once again claim gold and silver in Tokyo, and they will be joined by Payton Otterdahl, who placed third in the 2020 Millrose shot put.
Ryan Crouser took first place in the men’s shot put at the Trials. Photo credit: Getty Images.
Athing Mu stunned the women’s 800m run field at the Olympic Trials. Photo credit: Getty Images.
19-year-old phenom Athing Mu dominated the women’s 800m, running 1:56.07, the second fastest mark ever by an American. The Trenton, NJ native won the junior 600m at the 2019 Millrose Games, before going on to completely rewrite the junior record book en route to her first Olympics. She will be accompanied by seven-time Millrose Champion, American record holder, and fellow Jersey girl Ajeé Wilson, as well as Raevyn Rogers, who ran with Wilson on the 4x800m relay team that set the world record at the 2018 Millrose Games. All three women will be medal threats in one of the least predictable events in all of track and field, with Mu appearing to be the favorite at this juncture.
Sydney McLaughlin (right) edges out Dalilah Muhammad to win the women’s 400m hurdles in world record fashion. Photo credit: BBC Sport.
On the final night of competition, Sydney McLaughlin broke the world record in the 400m hurdles, running 51.90 to become the first woman under 52 seconds. The previous record was held by Dalilah Muhammad, who placed second in 52.42 to secure her spot in Tokyo, where she will defend her Olympic title from 2016. Both athletes hail from the tri-state area and competed at the 2017 Millrose Games, and now their friendly rivalry has taken the 400m hurdles to new heights. McLaughlin and Muhammad will likely win gold and silver next month, the only question is who will come out on top.
On the men’s side, Rai Benjamin dazzled in the 400m hurdles, running 46.83, the second fastest mark of all time. Benjamin, the Mount Vernon, NY product who won the 300m at the 2020 Millrose Games, will head to Japan brimming with confidence as he prepares to take on his primary rival for gold, Norway’s Karsten Warholm.
Rai Benjamin was first to earn a ticket to Tokyo in the men’s 400m hurdles. Photo credit: Kevin Morris of Track & Field News.
The legendary Allyson Felix made her fifth Olympic team, taking second in the women’s 400m. The six-time Olympic gold medalist also won the 60m at the 2016 Millrose Games, and she is likely the greatest American sprinter of all time. Felix was followed home in third by Wadeline Jonathas, who secured her first Olympic berth a year after winning the 400m at the 2020 Millrose Games.
Never to be counted out, Matthew Centrowitz will have the chance to defend his Olympic gold medal after he finished second in the men’s 1500m. Always in the right spot, Centrowitz is one of the savviest racers of his era, and he won back-to-back Wanamaker Miles in 2015 and 2016.
Keni Harrison earned redemption, winning the women’s 100m hurdles to make her first Olympic team. Harrison set the world record in her event in 2016, but shockingly failed to qualify for Rio. After exorcising those demons, Harrison, who won the 60m hurdles at the 2020 Millrose Games, will join Millrose competitors Brianna McNeal and Christina Clemons in Tokyo as Team USA attempts to sweep the podium for the second consecutive Olympics.
Former high school standout Grant Fisher has realized his potential, placing second in both the 5,000m and 10,000m to make his first Olympic team. Fisher won the 3000m at the 2019 Millrose Games, and has steadily ascended to the top of the sport since his record-breaking high school days.
Vashti Cunningham took the crown in the women’s high jump, following her back-to-back Millrose victories in 2018 and 2019. Also going to Tokyo is Inika McPherson, who won at Millrose back in 2013.
Devon Allen and Daniel Roberts are going to the Olympics after placing second and third in the men’s 110m hurdles. Allen won the 60m hurdles at the 2019 Millrose Games, and Roberts did the same in 2020. These two athletes will join event winner Grant Holloway, who nearly set the world record in the semifinal.
Noah Lyles, who won a Millrose title as a high school athlete on the 4x200m relay, won a hard-fought 200m to make his first Olympic team. The defending world champion will go to Tokyo as the likely favorite for gold.
The other Millrose Games Champions who achieved their Olympic dreams last week are Javianne Oliver (women’s 100m), Alicia Monson (women’s 10,000m), Sandi Morris (women’s pole vault), Ronnie Baker (men’s 100m), Michael Cherry (men’s 400m), and Marquis Dendy (men’s long jump). Among the other Millrose competitors to qualify, Gabby Thomas deserves special mention. The former Harvard standout ran 21.61 to win the 200m, making her the second-fastest woman ever.
Congratulations to all of these incredible athletes, as well as everybody else who qualified to represent Team USA at the Olympic Games. If these Olympic Trials were any indication, this outstanding unit can be expected to lead the world in medals once again. Best of luck to all, and we hope to see many of these athletes back at Millrose in 2022!
