The third day of the US Championships in Eugene on Saturday (2) delivered thrilling performances and solidified the road to Tokyo for some of America’s finest athletes. Among the standout performers were Masai Russell, Chase Jackson, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, each of whom produced memorable victories to book their places for the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo 2025.
Masai Russell Nearly Breaks World Record in 100m Hurdles
Olympic champion Masai Russell once again demonstrated her dominance in the 100m hurdles, coming within a whisper of the world record. With a blistering time of 12.22 seconds (0.7m/s), Russell was just a tenth of a second shy of rewriting history, marking the second-fastest performance of her career. This stunning result follows her North American record of 12.17, set earlier in May in Miami. Russell also impressed in the heats, clocking 12.25 to cruise through to the final.
Her triumph in Eugene not only earned her another national title but also a confirmed spot for Tokyo, where she will aim to convert her current form into global dominance. Joining Russell on the team are runner-up Grace Stark (12.31) and third-place finisher Alaysha Johnson (12.36), making for a formidable US contingent in the event.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Dominates the 400m Flat
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the world record-holder in the 400m hurdles, showcased her remarkable versatility by switching focus to the flat 400m this time around—and she did not disappoint. Clocking 48.90 seconds, McLaughlin-Levrone comfortably claimed victory and a ticket to Tokyo. She will be joined by Isabella Whittaker (49.59) and Aaliyah Butler (49.91), both of whom delivered strong performances to secure their places.
This result adds another impressive chapter to McLaughlin-Levrone’s career, proving she is not just the queen of the hurdles but a serious contender in the flat sprint as well.
On the men’s side, Jacory Patterson captured the 400m title with a time of 44.16, narrowly edging out Chris Bailey (44.43) and Khaleb McRae (44.45) in a fiercely contested final.
Chase Jackson Sends a Powerful Message in the Shot Put
Defending world shot put champion Chase Jackson made her intentions for Tokyo clear with an emphatic performance. Launching the shot to 20.84m, she registered the third-best winning mark of her career, just behind her US record of 20.95m set in June. Jackson consistently threw beyond the 20-metre mark with her four valid attempts, backing up her opener of 20.84m with throws of 20.56m, 20.50m, and 20.21m.
Maggie Ewen finished second with 19.94m, while Jessica Ramsey claimed third place with 19.56m. Jackson’s display underlined her position as the woman to beat when the world gathers in Tokyo.
More Highlights from the Track and Field
The triple jump saw Jasmine Moore, a double Olympic bronze medallist, secure the win with a leap of 14.68m. In the pole vault, Austin Miller achieved a personal best of 5.92m to take victory, ahead of seasoned competitors Sam Kendricks and Matt Ludwig (5.72m).
Middle-distance events brought their own drama. In the men’s 1500m, Jonah Koech stormed to the title with a personal best of 3:30.17, edging out Ethan Strand (3:30.25 PB) and Olympic champion Cole Hocker (3:30.37). The close finish denied both Hobbs Kessler (3:31.12) and Yared Nuguse (3:31.34) spots on the Tokyo team.
In the women’s 1500m, Nikki Hiltz emerged victorious in 4:03.15, with Sinclaire Johnson (4:03.77) and Emily Mackay (4:04.38) joining her on the Tokyo-bound team.