FROM HARVARD LABS TO KIPCHOGE'S HOME

 

Gabby Thomas’s path to Nyayo Stadium's track is anything but typical. While rivals turned pro at 20, she was at Harvard earning a degree in neurobiology and global health, graduating in 2019 after smashing the NCAA 200m record with 22.38. 

Since then, the medals piled up: Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze in the 200m and 4x100m silver. Budapest 2023 World Championship silver in the 200m and 4x100m gold. Then Paris 2024, where she completed the triple: Olympic gold in the 200m, 4x100m, and 4x400m. 

All while finishing a master’s in public health at UT Austin and championing STEM access. She analyzes races like research problems. Nairobi was her latest experiment, and the hypothesis held: speed travels.

The Kip Keino Classic honors Kenya’s greatest miler but today it crowned a sprinter. The 100m/200m double is the sport’s toughest ask: pure power, then lactic acid management, with minimal recovery. To do it with 11.01 and 21.89 at altitude puts Thomas in elite company. 

Her 11.01 is a one of her  best performances and a message to the 100m field. Her 21.89 ties her season’s best and proves Nairobi’s altitude is no barrier when your turnover is that clean. 

Thomas laughed post-race, draped in both the US and Kenyan flags fans handed her: “I came here hoping to deliver my best and I did exactly that', she said.

With World Championships on the horizon, Gabby Thomas just used Nyayo Stadium as a warning shot. The neuroscience grad is still running experiments in human potential. Result of today’s trial: double gold.

- Wambui Muigai

HOLLOWAY WINS 110 METERS HURDLES IN SIZZLING US OLYMPIC YRIALS

USA TODAY Sports 

 Grant Holloway won the 110 metres hurdles at the U.S. Olympic trials in a world lead of 12.86 seconds on Friday, as Gabby Thomas and Noah Lyles scorched their semi-final heats in the 200m.

The three-time world champion Holloway took the immediate lead and was undeterred even as he clipped the seventh barrier, leaning hard over the finish line for the fourth fastest time in history.

"It just speaks for itself," Holloway said in televised remarks, as he booked a return trip to the Games after taking silver in Tokyo.

Freddie Crittenden was second in 12.93 while Daniel Roberts punched his ticket to Paris in 12.96, as they joined Holloway as the only three men to crack 13 seconds this year.

Sha'Carri Richardson seized the headlines earlier in the 10-day affair as she won the 100m and equalled her personal best to win her semi-final heat in the 200m in 21.92.

But the Tokyo bronze medallist Thomas was ready to take some of the spotlight for herself in her signature event, as she crossed the finish in 21.78 to win her heat in the fastest time of the year and send a message ahead of Saturday's final.

"I know I'm in shape and I'm ready to run but it just felt like such a nice, controlled run for me and so, I don't know, I didn't expect to run that fast, feeling that good so it kind of excites me for tomorrow," Thomas told reporters in Eugene, Oregon.

"I wouldn't be surprised to see a big PB (personal best) tomorrow."

Lyles put up a wind-aided 19.60 in the men's 200m semi-final, finishing 0.29 seconds ahead of Christian Coleman, while as their younger challenger Erriyon Knighton had the third-fastest time of the day in 19.93.

"It felt real easy. I was very shocked to see that time pop up," said Lyles, who won the 100m earlier at Hayward Field.

Tokyo silver medallist Kenny Bednarek also advanced in 19.96.

The 100 metres hurdles opening heats featured a familiar face as a 41-year-old Lolo Jones returned to the U.S. trials for the first time in 12 years, advancing to the semi-final as late scratches saw all the competitors move on.

The Tokyo 400 metres hurdles silver medallist Rai Benjamin eased into Sunday's final in 47.97, along with CJ Allen (48.16) and Aldrich Bailey (48.69).

- Reuters 

LYLES, RICHARDSON BREEZE THROUGH 200M HEATS AT US TRIALS

Reuters 

 Noah Lyles and Sha'Carri Richardson made light work of the 200m heats on Thursday as the U.S. Olympic trials returned from a two-day break with plenty of spots at the Paris Games still up for grabs.

Lyles has not lost a 200m since taking bronze in Tokyo three years ago and he cruised to the fastest time of the day in 20.10 seconds in Eugene, Oregon.

"Feel really smooth, really loose," Lyles, who won the 100m on Sunday, told reporters. "I feel I did exactly what I needed to do, was able to save extra energy."

Erriyon Knighton had the second-fastest time in 20.15.

The world silver medalist tested positive for a banned substance ahead of the trials but avoided a suspension after an arbitrator found the result was likely caused by contaminated meat.

Richardson put on a show in the 200m, taking the lead off the turn and crossing the finish line in 21.99, the second-fastest time this year.

"I'm really just focusing in on executing the curve to make the straightaway much, much easier," said Richardson, who won the 100m on Saturday.

"Any time I touch the track it's an opportunity for me to work on my best self."

Reuters 

Tokyo bronze medalist Gabby Thomas won her heat easily in 22.11 while Abby Steiner was the third fastest of the day in 22.29.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the Olympic 400m hurdles champion and world record holder, ran a conservative race in her heat but was still well ahead of the field, crossing the finish in 53.07.

Anna Cockrell (54.71), twice world silver medalist Shamier Little (54.93) and Rio gold medalist Dalilah Muhammad (55.51) also advanced.

Tokyo silver medalist Rai Benjamin (49.56) won his opening heat on the men's side, while collegiate star Caleb Dean was fastest overall in 49.45.

Valarie Allman will defend her Olympic discus title after a throw of 70.73m on her final attempt, while Jayden Ulrich (62.63) finished second and Veronica Fraley (62.54) took third.

"This year we're going after it more and believing that those big throws are possible," Allman told reporters.

In the women's 3,000m steeplechase, Valerie Constien booked a second trip to the Games as she won in a meet record 9:03.22, with Courtney Wayment (9:06.50) and Marisa Howard (9:07.14) also headed to Paris.

- Reuters 

WRAPUP ATHLETICS - FORMIDABLE US TEAM BUILD ON MEDAL HAUL IN BUDAPEST

USA TODAY Sports 

Sha'Carri Richardson will represent the United States' best hope of keeping the women's world 100m title out of Jamaican hands next month, while Gabby Thomas showed she will be a huge threat in the 200m as the U.S. Championships wrapped up in Eugene, Oregon on Sunday.

Breakout star Cravont Charleston joins defending champion Fred Kerley in the team for the men's 100m as the Americans look to improve on the record 33 world championship medals they collected last year when the 2023 edition kicks off on Aug. 19.

HURDLE STAR MCLAUGHLIN LETHAL IN 400M FLAT, LYLES SHINES AGAIN IN NYC

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Hurdle queen Sydney McLaughlin's experiment in the 400 metres flat appeared to be paying off on Saturday, when she cruised to victory at the NYC Grand Prix in 49.51 seconds, while Noah Lyles showed no loss of form to thrash the 200m field.

American McLaughlin wrested the lead at the halfway point from compatriot and 200m Olympic bronze medallist Gabby Thomas, who finished second in 50.29. Jamaican Charokee Young took third in 51.02.

GABBY THOMAS BEATS ALLYSON FELIX OVER 200M | USATF GOLDEN GAMES CONTINENTAL TOUR GOLD