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≡ ED MURPHEY CLASSIC ≡
Normally, a fun, relaxed, mid-summer meet in Memphis, Tennessee, the placement of the World Athletics Championships in September this year and the associated, ultra-late USA Track & Field Championships starting on 31 July made Saturday’s annual Ed Murphey Classic a critical final tune-up for dozens of U.S. and international stars.
And amid hot afternoon temperatures and a cooler evening, they did some startling things:
● Paris relay Olympian Quincy Wilson, still just 17, had managed a best of 45.27 this season, coming off his 2024 explosion, with a world U-18 record of 44.20. But he started on fire in Memphis, making up the stagger on Tokyo Olympic champ Steven Gardiner (BAH), then moving confidently through the turn and pulling away from 2023 national champ Bryce Deadmon to win in 44.10!
That’s equal-fourth in the world for 2025, and came exactly 51 weeks since his 44.20 in 2024. It’s another world U-18 mark for Wilson and the no. 2 time in world junior (U-20) history. He’s right on schedule! Deadmon was second in 44.39; Gardiner did not finish.
● Tennessee’s T’Mars McCallum, no. 2 on the world list coming in, but who finished fifth at the NCAA 200 m, blasted the turn and won the afternoon race in 19.73 (+1.8 m/s), to re-take the world lead in the event!
He also won the earlier men’s 100 m in 9.87w, with a barely-over-the-allowable wind of +2.1 m/s. Fellow Vol Davonte Howell (CAY) was second at 9.93w, then came back to win the evening 100 m in 10.07.
● Two men’s 110 m hurdles races were run, with Eric Edwards winning the afternoon race in 13.20 (+1.9) over Ja’Qualon Scott (13.37), then Scott winning in the evening at 13.12w (+3.3), with Jamal Britt (13.16w) second and Scott third at 13.34w.
● McKenzie Long, the former Mississippi star, showed she is back with an afternoon win in the women’s 100 m in 10.88w (+3.7), the zooming to no. 2 in the world for 2025 with a 200 m win in the evening in 21.93 (+1.2), ahead of Nigeria’s Favour Ofili (22.00) and Olympic bronzer Brittany Brown (22.17).
● Shafiqua Maloney (VIN), the Olympic women’s 800 m fourth-placer, took the 800 m here, wire to wire, in 1:58.13, ahead of former American Record holder Ajee Wilson (1:59.53). Tokyo Olympic champ Athing Mu-Nikolayev was with the leaders into the final straight, but faded to fifth in 2:00.42.
● The women’s 110 m hurdles races were both sizzling, with Alaysha Johnson steaming to a 12.32 (+1.9) winner in the afternoon, then blasting to a 12.27w victory in the evening, but with +2.1 m/s wind.
Superstar Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was scheduled to run the women’s 400 m, but pulled with due to illness. Recovering Britton Wilson won in 50.54, her best since 2023.
On the infield:
● Paris Olympian and U.S. indoor champ Russell Robinson was just behind his seasonal best to win the men’s triple jump at 17.29 m (56-8 3/4), which would be good for no. 3 in 2025, if not for his earlier 17.30 m (56-9 1/4).
● Tripp Piperi came from behind in the sixth round to win the men’s shot at 21.88 m (71-9 1/2) overtaking Chuk Enekwechi (NGR: 21.67 m/71-1 1/4) and Roger Steen (21.66 m/71-0 3/4).
● Cuba’s Davisleidis Valazco won the women’s triple jump at 14.61 m (47-11 1/4) to move to no. 3 in the world for 2025.
This was some meet, with the winners getting to pop open a bottle of champagne on the infield … except for the 17-year old Wilson (his coach opened the bubbly)!
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