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≡ USATF NATIONALS ≡
Sunny skies at New York’s Icahn Stadium for day three of the USATF National Championships, with maybe 3,000 in the stands of the 5,000-seat Icahn Stadium to see a full day of finals:
● Men/400 m: The first 200 was fairly even, but 2025 Nationals third-placer Khaleb McRae led around the turn, being chased by 2025 U.S. champ Chris Bailey. But on their outside – in lane seven – was Justin Robinson and he steamed down the straight to pass both right in the final 10 m with a lifetime best of 44.31 for his first national title, and no. 15 in the world for 2026. Bailey leaned in for second in 44.39 and then McRae in 44.41.
But Robinson was disqualified for three steps on the inside lane around the turn and Bailey was declared the winner, with McRae now second and Dermarius Smith third in 44.54.
● Men/1,500 m: An incredibly slow, 67.67 lap with Eric Holt in the lead, and a huge pack all together right into the bell. Nathan Green had the lead at 3:12.19 with a lap to go and Green held on during the all-out sprint off the final turn in 3:50.27, with a 51.65 last lap. He was just ahead of Vince Ciattei (3:50.32; last 400 in 51.60). Rheinhardt Harrison and Gary Martin were 3-4 in 3:50.65 and 3:50.74. Green was a two-time NCAA winner at 1,500 at Washington and now has a USATF outdoor title to go with his indoor title in March.
● Men/Steeplechase: Duncan Hamilton, sixth at the 2024 Trials, had the lead at 2,000 m and took the bell with six in contact. Off the final water jump, Virginia’s Nathan Mountain – eighth last year – pushed into the lead, clipped the final hurdle, but sprinted to the line and won in 8:13.81, falling across the line! Carson Williams ran past Hamilton across the line in a lifetime best of 8:13.88 with Hamilton settling for third in 8:14.05.
● Men/Triple Jump: Defending champ Russell Robinson had the lead after three rounds at 16.66 m (54-8), and stayed in the lead through round five. But in the sixth, from third place, 2024 U.S. champ Salif Mane also got out to 16.66 m (54-8) into a 4.4 m/s headwind – tying Robinson – and into first thanks to a better second jump! And that’s how it finished. James Carter, second indoors this season, finished third at 16.15 m (53-0), with all of the jumps impacted by headwinds.
● Men/Discus: American record holder Sam Mattis led through three rounds at 63.83 m (209-5) in round two, but Texas Tanner of Air Force – the NCAA fourth-placer – broke into the lead in round four at 65.46 m (214-9) and two-time national champ Reggie Jagers moved into second at 64.00 (210-0). Mitchell Weber passed Mattis for third in round six at 63.84 m (209-5). Mattis did not improve and finished fourth, with Tanner taking a surprise first national title!
● Men/Javelin: Huge drama as NCAA fourth-placer Jordan Davis was third going into the final round and then took the lead with a seasonal best of 82.36 m (270-2)! Paris bronze winner Curtis Thompson had been the leader. Thompson came up for the last throw and came through, sailing the spear out to 87.59 m (287-4) for his sixth national title in all and fourth in a row!
The winning throws moved Thompson to no. 2 on the world list for 2026 and is his no. 3 throw ever and just outside the top-10 throws in American history!
● Women/400 m: U.S. leader Aaliyah Butler was in lane seven, and took off from the start, making up the staggers on both runners outside here. She maintained on the straight and won her first national title in 49.93, slowed by the headwind. Paris Olympian Alexis Holmes emerged on the straight to get second in 50.47 and then Sanaria Butler (50.89).
● Women/1,500 m: Nikki Hiltz came in with three straight outdoor U.S. titles in this event, and four U.S. indoor wins. The first 400 was slow in 71.04, but Hiltz was in front at 800 m. Addy Wiley, the 2026 World Indoor 800 m bronzer, and Hiltz took the bell and Wiley led with 200 m to go with World indoor 3,000 m runner-up Emily Mackay chasing. The three were all together with 10 m to go and Hiltz got to the line first in 4:06.92 – her eighth U.S. win – with Wiley second in 4:06.96 and Mackay third in 4:06.98. Hiltz finished in 58.80.
● Women/Steeple: It was 79 F and 42% humidity for this race, with a lead pack of eight, with Paris Olympian Marisa Howard crashing over a hurdle at about 1,800 m. Then Gabbi Jennings and defending champ Lexy Halladay broke away with Halladay taking the lead with just less than two laps to go. At the bell, Halladay had a 5 m lead and she sailed home to defend her title in 9:12.54, with Jennings at 9:17.42. Madie Boreman was a close third in a lifetime best of 9:17.68; 10-time U.S. champ Emma Coburn was seventh in 9:29.68.
● Women/100 m hurdles: In the heats, Tonea Marshall and Olympic long jump champ Tara Davis-Woodhall were 1-2 in 12.80 and 12.82 (-1.4 m/s) in the first race, then U.S. Indoor champ Alia Armstrong and former world-record holder Keni Harrison were the clear leaders throughout heat two in 12.53 and 12.64 (-1.7). Rio Olympic winner Brianna McNeal, now 34, was in heat three, but hit four hurdles and world no. 4 Alaysha Johnson won easily in 12.64 with Amber Hughes second in 12.87 (-0.9).
Marshall, Johnson and Armstrong were in lanes 4-5-6 in the final, and Armstrong was out well and held her form perfectly and won with a final push to win in 12.38 (0.0) over the fast-finishing Johnson, in 12.42. Davis-Woodhall was steady in lane seven and was a stunning third in her first year back in the event in 12.57! Armstrong moved up to equal-4th on the 2026 world list.
● Women/Vault: A tricky crosswind meant that only five cleared 4.50 m (14-9). Two-time World Indoor champ Sandi Morris was the first to clear 4.60 m (15-1), followed by Tori Thomas on her first attempt, then Emily Grove, Gabriela Leon and Chloe Timburg on their second. At 4.70 m (15-5), Grove cleared and Morris made on her second, with Thomas finishing third based on misses.
The bar went up to 4.80 m (15-9) and Morris – the defending champion – cleared on her second try, and Grove could not and was second. On to 4.90 m (16-0 3/4) and Morris was over, her 10th time clearing that height and no. 3 in the world for 2026. So, she moved to 5.01 m (16-5 1/4) to try for the best-ever outdoor jump by an American, but missed three times. She now has a combined 10 American championships, indoors (4) and outdoors (6).
● Women/Shot: American record holder Chase Jackson opened with a bomb: 20.49 m (67-2 3/4). No one was close; U.S. indoor runner-up Abria Smith was second from round one and reached a lifetime best of 19.31 m (63-4 3/4) in round three. That’s how it ended, but Jackson got a big one in round six to win with 20.55 m (67-5 1/4). It’s her fifth USATF outdoor win. Tokyo Olympian Adelaide Aquilla finished third with 18.74 m (61-5 3/4).
In qualifying:
Garrett Kaalund, who said he has been coming back from injuries since his 19.95 at the NCAA Indoors, led the men’s 200 m first heat in 20.46 (-1.7 m/s), ahead of Max Thomas (20.70). Four-time World Champion Noah Lyles was in heat two, and was even off the turn, but broke free to win in 20.51 (-1.9 m/s) with Kyree King second in 20.71. Brandon Hicklin won heat three, maintaining his lead on the straight and had the fastest time of the day, 20.43, into a 2.8 m/s headwind! Trelee Banks was second in 20.65. Lyles is going for his sixth U.S. 200 m title.
In the men’s 400 m hurdles heats, 2023 NCAA champ Chris Robinson was an easy winner in 48.99 with CJ Allen a clear second in 49.18; they were clear of the field by 300 m. Caleb Dean, the 2024 NCAA winner, took the lead around the final turn and rolled home in 48.47. James Smith II got second in 48.90.
The women’s 200 m had several scratches; Georgia’s Kalia Jackson won heat one in 23.05, into a 2.1 m/s headwind, ahead of Paris Olympian McKenzie Long (23.14). NCAA champion in 2021, Cambrea Sturgis, was in lane two in heat two and rolled around the turn and won easily in 22.58 (-1.4 m/s), ahead of Jadyn Mays (22.85). World champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden came off the turn in front and then shut it down, winning in 22.50 (-1.1 m/s); Camryn Dickson was second in 22.90.
Rio 2016 Olympic champ Dalilah Muhammad, 36, said she was retiring after last season, but she was in lane five of the first women’s 400 m hurdles heat. She looked smooth and won easily in 54.80, followed by Bianca Stubler (55.11). Paris silver winner Anna Cockrell dominated heat two and won in 53.65, well ahead of two-time Worlds silver medalist Shamier Little (54.69).
The meet concludes on Sunday.
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