The US Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, have begun, and the competition is already heating up. Noah Lyles, the reigning world champion, headlines a crowded men’s 100m and 200m field. He will be facing stiff competition from 2019 world champion Christian Coleman and rising star Christian Miller. Lyles, who recently ran a blazing 9.85 seconds in Kingston, is confident in his ability to win. “Whoever’s going out there, if you have any type of different mentality of not trying to win, I don’t think this is the right sport for you,” he declared. In the 200m, Lyles will have another tough battle against world leader Kenny Bednarek. “I have the power for sure. I need to find the rhythm again,” said Lyles, the Tokyo 200m bronze medalist.
On the women’s side, Sha’Carri Richardson hopes to make a triumphant return to the Olympics. After missing the Tokyo Games due to a positive cannabis test, she is ready to prove herself. Richardson, the 2023 world champion in the 100m, will face stiff competition in both the 100m and 200m. In the 200m, she’ll go up against Tokyo bronze medalist Gabby Thomas and McKenzie Long, who recently won the collegiate championship in a world-leading 21.83 seconds.
Other top athletes to watch include Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who will be defending her Olympic title in the 400m hurdles. McLaughlin-Levrone has also shown success in the 200m and 400m flat, but she is sticking to her signature event. Olympic champion Athing Mu, who hasn’t competed since her bronze finish at the World Championships last year, is expected to make her season debut in the 800m. Michael Norman, the 2022 world champion in the 400m, will be making his comeback after taking time off last year due to injuries.
With so many talented athletes vying for a spot on the US Olympic team, the US Olympic Trials in Eugene promise to be an exciting spectacle. Get ready for some thrilling races and nail-biting finishes as athletes push themselves to the limit in pursuit of their Olympic dreams.
