Every four years, the terrible American athletics trials reserve a few surprises and disappointments for American athletes, to whom the Olympic selection system offers no room for error, regardless of their record.
Athing Mu (22 years old), Olympic champion in the 800m and 4x400m relay in Tokyo in 2021, among the favorites for the podium in Paris, saw her hopes of a medal disappear after 200m when she fell, a priori hindered by a competitor as is often the case in these disciplines run in a peloton.
Mu, in tears upon arrival
Mu got up and attempted a return, ultimately impossible, only to cross the line resigned and in tears. Also world champion in the same Hayward Field stadium in 2022, Mu, who trains in Los Angeles with historic coach Bob Kersee, had not raced all season before the trials, due to an injury to her a hamstring which had delayed his preparation.
Nia Akins won the double lap in 1’57”36 and will be accompanied in Paris by Allie Wilson and Juliette Whittaker.
Surprise again, the reigning world discus champion Laulauga Tausaga (26 years old) did not succeed in a single throw during qualifying, thus missing the final and the Olympics.
READ ALSO. VIDEO. 2024 Olympics: Noah Lyles is a hit in the 100m and sends a message before the Paris Games
Holloway blazes over 110m hurdles
A little earlier, hurdler Grant Holloway, three-time world champion in the 110m hurdles, had soared in the heats with a time of 12”92 (0.8 m/s wind), the best world performance in the year.
Elle St. Pierre won the 5,000 m (14’40”34), where the queen of the university season Parker Valby tried everything by leading almost the entire race, but failed in 4th place, outside qualifying positions for the Games.
Jeremiah Davis dominated the length (8.20m) and double world medalist Anna Hall the heptathlon (6,614 points).
READ ALSO. VIDEO. 2024 Olympics – Athletics: best world performance and ticket to Paris for Richardson
World champion in the 4x400m relay last summer, Quincy Hall triumphed on the lap in 44”17, his record, ahead of 2022 world champion Michael Norman (44”41) and Chris Bailey (44”). ’42). The phenomenon Quincy Wilson, only 16 years old, took 6th place in 44”94.
Wilson has a good chance of being selected in the relay collective (men’s and mixed 4x400m) and thus becoming the youngest American male athlete to obtain a ticket for the Olympic Games.
“My season is not over, I’m not going to go eat ice cream and cookies, I can have that phone call, I have to stay focused, think about the Olympic team, we’ll see what happens with the federation »launched the smiling high school student.
