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≡ USATF NATIONALS ≡
The first day of the 2026 USATF National Championships at Randall’s Island, New York had pretty warm conditions and a small crowd to see the two Thursday finals in the 10,000 m.
The women went first and former Arkansas All-American Sydney Vaught was at or near the front the entire race and she, Kate Izzo and Allie Buchalski broke away from the rest of the field by 7,000 m.
Buckalski was dropped by 9,000 m and Vaught and Izzo were close with two laps to go and then Vaught moved away and won easily with a 69.03 last lap in 33:30.60 to 33:36.98 for Izzo and 33:42.29 for Buchalski. It’s the first national title for Vaught.
The men’s 10 had former champions Woody Kincaid (2021, 2023) and Grant Fisher (2024), with Fisher at the front of this race from the 6,000 m mark. He was second to Drew Bosley at the bell, both being chased by Kincaid. Bosley held on into the backstraight and then Kincaid and Fisher went by and that’s how it finished, with Kincaid at 30:13.66 and Fisher at 30:14.46. Bosley was third in 30:20.60.
Kincaid’s last lap was in 54.89 and Fisher, 56.05.
There was good field-event action on Thursday:
● Men/Long Jump: Defending champion Isaac Grimes took the lead in round one at 7.85 m (25-9 1/4), improved in round four to 8.16 m (26-9 1/4) and finished off with his best in round six at 8.18 m (26-10) to win again. Malcolm Clemons moved into second in round five and got his best of 8.07 m (26-5 3/4) in round six to grab second. U.S. Indoor champ Steffin Mccarter was third at 7.97 m (26-1 3/4) in round four.
World 110 m hurdles champ Cordell Tinch competed and finished fourth at 7.94 m (26-0 3/4) in round five, his best outdoor jump since 2023.
● Men/Hammer: Again, prior champions dueled, with 2017 winner Alex Young in the lead through the third round at 74.93 m (245-10) on his first try. Just behind was five-time champion Rudy Winkler and he took over in round four at 76.55 m (251-1) and then improved to 77.05 m (252-9) for the winning throw. Young stayed second and Trey Knight moved from fifth to third in round six at 73.70 (241-9).
● Women/Javelin: Favored Madison Wiltrout took the lead with her first throw of 59.72 (195-11) and then improved in round three to 61.53 (201-10) that stood up as the winner. Defending champion Evie Bliss of Bucknell reached 60.41 m (198-2) in round two and that was enough for second. Madelyn Harris was third at 57.14 (187-5).
In the qualifying rounds, the men’s 100 m was led by 2019 World Champion Christian Coleman at 9.96 on heat one, then 9.97 in heat two for Paris Olympic champ Noah Lyles. Ronnie Baker (10.00) and Kenny Bednarek (10.04) were the next fastest.
The women’s 100s were hotter, with 2023 World Champion Sha’Carri Richardson taking heat four in 10.90, Kayla White winning heat one in a seasonal best of 10.98 and Anavia Battle winning heat two in a wind-aided 11.00 (+2.4 m/s).
In the men’s 1,500 m, the heat winners were Luke Houser (3:44.02), Nathan Green (3:42.91) and Vince Ciattei (3:41.30). NCAA champ Simeon Birnbaum did not qualify at 3:46.01 for eighth in heat one. The Steeple heats were taken by Ben Balazs (8:31.04) and Parker Stokes (8:23.04).
The women’s 1,500 m heats were won by Addy Wiley (4:04.17) and defending champion Nikki Hiltz (4:04.54).
Defending champ Kyle Garland led the decathlon after the first day at 4,423, trailed by Garrett Scantling (4,398) and Hakim McMorris (4,329). The heptathlon leader was Erin Marsh (3,722) followed by Hollan Powers (3,633).
The nationals continue through Sunday.
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