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≡ USATF L.A. GRAND PRIX ≡
After two editions of the USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix at UCLA’s Drake Stadium in 2023 and 2024, the meet moved downtown to USC’s Loker Stadium, with 1,000 or so fans in attendance on a sunny, 80-degree Sunday to see a star-studded field and especially a new double threat:
Olympic women’s long jump champion Tara Davis-Woodhall.
She started the day with her continuing return to the 100 m hurdles, facing Olympic champion and American-record holder Masai Russell and a field of Olympic finalists. No problem.
Russell dominated the race and won easily in 12.26 (+1.5 m/s), but Davis-Woodhall – who hadn’t run the event since 2021, but returned in May to run 12.99. This time, she crossed in second with a lifetime best of 12.47 – now equal-5th on the 2026 world list – ahead of Olympic fifth-placer Grace Stark at 12.48. Davis-Woodhall’s old best was 12.75 from 2021.
She moved over to the long jump and launched on her first jump out to 7.20 m (23-7 1/2), the world leader in 2026, a lifetime best and now equal-18th on the all-time list. She’s the no. 4 American: only Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Marion Jones and Brittney Reese have jumped further!
Davis-Woodhall wasn’t finished; she sailed out to a wind-aided 7.09 m (23-3 1/4) in round two, then improved again to a windy 7.25 m (23-9 1/2) in round three! In round four, she jumped 7.14 mw (23-5 1/4w), then passed in round five and finished at 6.85 mw (22-5 3/4w). Wow.
Monae Nichols, the 2024 World Indoor runner-up, got out to 6.81 mw (22-4 1/4w) in round four for second.
The men’s 100 was set up as a showdown between Olympic 200 m stars Letsile Tebogo (BOT) and silver medalist Kenny Bednarek of the U.S., but it was 2019 World Champion Christian Coleman who had (usual) best start. But Bednarek moved up and got the lead by mid-race and won in a wind-aided 9.72 (+2.4 m/s). Coleman was a clear second in 9.84w and Ghana’s Abdul-Rasheed Saminu (9.88w) was third. Tebogo was fifth in 9.95w.
Greece’s George Franks – he changed allegiance from the U.S. in 2025 – had the lead off the turn in the men’s 400 m, but it was Chris Bailey who came hard on the straight and won going away in 44.57. Franks remained second (45.21) with Bryce Deadmon third in 45.34 and 2012 Olympic champ Kirani James (GRN: 45.35) in fourth (he’s 33 now).
Britain’s 2023 World 1,500 champ Josh Kerr took the lead in the men’s 800 m at the bell and had 2 m on the field with 200 m left, but it was Paris Olympian Brandon Miller who rolled into the lead onto the straight and won easily in 1:43.94! Handal Roban (VIN) and former World Champion Donavan Brazier of the U.S. passed Kerr for second, 1:45.32 and 1:45.41 to 1:45.46.
The 3,000 m had Britain’s David Mullarkey taking off with Tshepo Tshite (RSA) with 1,400 m to go and about 10 m up with two laps to go. They were 1-2 at the bell and up by 25 m, then Tshite took over with 300 m left. He opened 5 m on Mullarkey into the straight, then World 5,000 m champ Cole Hocker started a full sprint around the turn. He got close, but Tshite won in 7:37.57 and Hocker in 7:37.77 (56.04 last 400). Mullarkey ended up fourth in 7:38.58, a lifetime best.
Worlds silver winner in 2022, Trey Cunningham got the best start in the 110 m hurdles and looked strong through nine hurdles. But Jamal Britt moved up right next to him in the second half of the race and broke free on the run-in and got a lifetime best of 12.99 (-0.1 m/s)! Cunningham was second in 13.03 and World Champion Cordell Tinch was third in 13.15. Britt is the 32nd man to run under 13 seconds and 20th American.
In the shot, Olympic bronze winner Rajindra Campbell (JAM) took the lead in round one at 21.67 (71-1 1/4) and then extended in round three to 21.81 m (71-6 3/4). He finished with a sixth-round 21.94 m (71-11 3/4) for the win. Jordan Geist of the U.S., the 2026 World Indoor runner-up, moved into second in the second round and reached 21.76 m (71-4 3/4) in round three. Two-time World Champion Joe Kovacs also hot 21.76 m, but ended up third on secondary mark.
Sha’Carri Richardson, the 2023 World Champion, was the center of attention in the women’s 100 m, opening her U.S. season by taking charge in the final third of the race to win in 10.99 (-0.2 m/s), over Kayla White (11.08) and Tamari Davis (11.11).
Paris Olympian Favour Ofili (NGR) was strong off the start and got to the lead and did not give it up and won decisively in 22.45, with Gemima Joseph (FRA: 22.88) in second.
American Aaliyah Butler, the 2025 NCAA champ, went to the front on the backstraight of the women’s 400 m and held off a challenge from Nigeria’s Ella Onojuvwevwo, to win in 49.90 to 50.25. Alexis Holmes, the 2025 World Indoor runner-up, came up for third in 51.08.
The women’s 1,500 m had World Indoor 3,000 m silver winner Emily Mackay taking over from the pacer and took the bell with a small lead, which she maintained into the final straight. And Mackay had the most left and moved smartly to the line in 3:59.26. Britain’s Katie Snowden was second in 4:00.97.
Emma Coburn, the 2017 World Champion and now returned to the Steeple, was in the field, but Gabi Jennings took the lead after the pacer retired, over 2025 U.S. champ Lexy Halladay. No one could catch her and Jennings won convincingly in 9:11.72. Halladay was second in 9:22.89 and Coburn finished fourth in 9:29.38. Jennings remains no. 9 on the world list for 2026.
Two former USC stars, Rio 2016 Olympic 400 m hurdles champion Dalilah Muhammad and Paris 2024 runner-up Anna Cockrell headlined the final race, and Cockrell had the lead almost from the start. She led over the 10th hurdle, with Muhammad coming up to challenge, but Cockrell won it in 53.43, with Muhammad at 53.65. And Muhammad said 2026 will be her last year.
Two-time World Champion Chase Jackson got out to 20.53 m (67-4 1/4) in the first round of the women’s shot, with two-time World Indoor champ Sarah Mitton (CAN) at 20.15 m (66-1 1/2) in second most of the way, but with her best in the sixth round.
Olympic and World Champion Valarie Sion of the U.S. grabbed hold of the women’s discus with a 68.46 m (224-7) first-round throw and was unchallenged. Even so, she improved to 69.15 m (226-10) in round five for the winning mark. Worlds silver medalist Jorinde van Klinken (NED) hit 64.95 m (213-1) in the first round, but could not improve and got passed for second in the final round by American Erika Beistle at 65.02 m (213-4).
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In the Saturday distance races, the top marks were in the hammer, where 2022 women’s World Champion Brooke Anderson moved to no. 3 in the world for 2026, winning at 79.09 (259-5) ahead of 2019 World Champion DeAnna Price (77.71 m/254-11). Olympic champ Cam Rogers was fourth at 76.50 m (251-0).
France’s Yves Chaussinand took the men’s world lead with a national record of 82.44 m (270-6, ahead of Olympic bronzer Mykhaylo Kokhan (UKR: 82.38 m/270-3) and Rudy Winkler of the U.S. (80.453 m/263-10).
On the track, Yusuf Biziman (GBR) had the fastest men’s 800 m at 1:45.88 and U.S. 1,500 m star Nikki Hiltz won the fastest women’s 800 m in 1:59.14.
Ethan Strand, the 2025 NCAA runner-up, was third at the bell, second with 200 m to go then rushed on the straight to win the men’s 1,500 m in 3:33.71 over Abel Teffra (3:34.08). Yasin Sado won the men’s Steeple with a lifetime best of 8:15.78 and Abdi Nur won the 5,000 at 13:07.46 from Thomas Radcliffe (13:08.50 lifetime best).
Taryn Parks took the fastest women’s 1,500 m section in 4:09.02 and Paris Olympian Parker Valby continued her return tour with a win in the 5,000 m at 14:39.88, a lifetime best and winning by almost 22 seconds! Valby moves up to no. 8 all-time U.S., taking almost 10 seconds off her then-best 14:49.41 race in May.
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