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≡ USATF NATIONALS ≡
It was warm (79 F) and cloudy at Icahn Stadium in New York on Friday for day two of the USATF National Championships, with the 100 m semis and finals the headline events. A modest crowd of perhaps 1,500 looked on at the star-studded finals:
● Men/100 m: In the semis, defending champion Kenny Bednarek was right next to training partner Courtney Lindsey out of the blocks with Bednarek taking the win in a wind-aided 9.82 (+3.2 m/s) to 9.86w. Christian Coleman, the 2019 winner, did not get his usual bullet start, but still won easily in semi two in 9.90 (+2.0), over Brandon Hicklin (10.02). Paris Olympic champ Noah Lyles was in semi three, but Tokyo 2020 Olympic finalist Ronnie Baker got out best. Lyles came on in the second half and won in a fast, wind-aided 9.76 (+2.1) to 9.85w for Baker and 9.96w for Maxmilian Thomas.
The final had Coleman in lane four, Lyles in five and Bednarek in six and Coleman and Bednarek got the best start. But Lyles was close and flew past in mid-race and ran through the line in a speedy 9.79, with legal wind (+0.8) and a new world leader, equaling his lifetime best!
Coleman faded slightly, but Baker, 32, passed Bednarek for second, with both timed in 9.88. Coleman was third in 9.93 and Lindsey at 9.97 for fifth.
For Lyles, it’s his third USATF 100 title, after 2018 and 2024.
● Women/100 m: Kayla White won the first semi over Tamari Davis, 10.97 to 11.01 (+0.3 m/s), with Nayla Harris getting a lifetime best of 11.04 in third. Anavia Battle, the Tokyo 200 m Olympian came on strongly in the final half to win semi two in 10.99 (+1.6), ahead of Kaila Jackson (11.10).
Heats leader Sha’Carri Richardson was in semi three, and she ran away from the field by 35 m and rolled to the line in 10.78w (+2.6). Jaslyn Gardner was second in 11.02w.
In the final 75 minutes later, two-time winner Richardson was in lane five, but White got the best start. But Richardson went to another gear in mid-race and won decisively in 10.77 (+0.9), equaling her seasonal best, and third national title. White was a clear second in 10.90, then Davis (11.00) and Battle (11.02).
On the infield, three cleared 2.20 m (7-2 1/2) in the men’s high jump, with Arkansas’ NCAA runner-up, Scottie Vines, taking the lead with a first-try clearance. He missed once at 2.23 m (7-3 3/4) then made 2.26 m (7-5) on his first. Defending champ Tyus Wilson, the 2025 NCAA champ, cleared 2.20 on his first try, as did Paris Olympic silver man Shelby McEwen. Only Wilson cleared 2.23 and Vines and McEwen passed after one miss. At 2.26, McEwen went out and had to settle for third. But Vines made 2.26 on his third, then took the lead at 2.29 m (7-6), equaling his lifetime best.
Vines passed the height and went to 2.32 m (7-7 1/4), but he and Wilson both missed and Wilson ended with his second consecutive U.S. championship.
The final day of the decathlon had Garrett Scantling, the 2021 and 2022 nationals winner, taking the lead in the vault and won the javelin to sit first after nine events at 7,869 with prior leader Kyle Garland at 7,766 and Hakim McMorris third at 7,568. In the 1,500 m, Garland and Scantling finished 8-9 and Scantling took the overall title with 8,526 – no. 4 on the 2026 world list – and Garland took second at 8,431. McMorris was second in the 1,500 m and took third at 8,312.
U.S. Indoor runner-up Kayla White led the women’s triple jump with a lifetime best 13.75 m (45-1 1/2) in round one, but it didn’t last. Euphenie Andre, third last year, took over with her lifetime best of 13.89 m (45-7) in round five. Andre put a finishing touch on her win with another PR of 13.94 m (45-9) in the final round. White stayed second and Kayla Pinkard was third at 13.48 m (44-2 3/4).
The women’s hammer was slated to start after this story was posted; an update will be included after the event is finished.
Women’s heptathlon leader Erin Marsh came into the 800 m with a 5,113 to 5,079 lead on Timara Chapman, with Lauren Taubert at 5,049. It came down to Marsh and Chapman dueling down the final straight, but Marsh’s 2:11.27 edged Chapman (2:11.58) and won, 6,059 to 6,021. Taubert was third with 5,971.
In the qualifying:
World Indoor relay hold medalist Khaleb McRae set the pace in the men’s 400 m heats in 44.65, then 2025 World Indoor champ Chris Bailey won heat two in 45.14. Justin Robinson took heat three in 45.49, but Paris Olympic champ Quincy Hall is still not right from injuries and finished a non-qualifying sixth in 46.47.
U.S. leader Aaliyah Butler led the women’s 400 m at 50.53, ahead of Sanaria Butler (51.10) and Paris Peoples (51.46).
The men’s 800 m had World Indoor champ – at 17 – Cooper Lutkenhaus go to the lead on the final backstraight and rolled in easily in heat one 1:45.83, ahead of Paris Olympian Hobbs Kessler (1:45.93). Semi two saw Wes Ferguson sprint to the lead in the final 75 m and win in 1:45.17, overtaking Andrew Casey (1:45.59). Donavan Brazier, the 2019 World Champion, was in heat three, but he faded in the final 200 m to fourth (1:46.93) and Sean Dolan, the U.S. Indoor runner-up sprinted to the tape in 1:46.11, ahead of Camden Marshall (1:46.40). Tokyo Olympian Isaiah Jewett, the leader into the final straight, faded to fifth (1:47.13).
In the women’s 800 m, defending champion Roisin Willis came from third to first on the final straight and won heat one in 1:59.83, ahead of Meghan Hunter (2:00.38). Nia Akins, the two-time national champ, took the lead early and towed the field through the race in 2:01.78. The fight for second had Paris Olympian Juliette Whittaker coming on to pass four-time U.S. champ Ajee Wilson in the final 30 m, 2:02.22 to 2:02.45 (Wilson did not advance). Nikki Hiltz, who the second 1,500 m heat on Thursday, scratched from the 800 m.
Heat three had World Indoor bronzer Addy Wiley, but 2025 NCAA Indoor champ Makayla Paige took the lead with 200 m to go. Wiley closed in and came on to win in the final 15 m in 2:01.40. Paige was second in 2:01.45.
There’s a lot more to come; the meet continues through Sunday.
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Paralympic men’s 400 m star Hunter Woodhall won the T62 final in 46.43, but was disqualified for using a foam starting block, which he had used during the qualifying. He was apparently warned not to use it for the final, but did so anyway.
He plans to appeal: his contention is that there is nothing in the rules to prohibit the use of the foam block for his to push off of with his hand. The view of USATF officials is that since it is not specifically “approved for competition,” it cannot be used. He told Dyestat.com:
“This rule was instituted for Hunter, and I’m not exaggerating. There’s nothing in the rulebook that says you can’t.”
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