A Look Back at the USA Olympic Trials
by Steve McGill
The USA Olympic team trials, which took place at the end of June, proved to be an electrifying meet at Hayward Field in Eugene, OR. There were thrilling performances in every event, and that definitely includes the hurdling events. In this article, we’ll take a look back at the hurdling events at USA’s, and also take a glimpse ahead at the Paris Olympics, which begin at the end of this month.
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Women’s 100 Meter Hurdles
This event seems to get more competitive every year – both in America and worldwide. There was a time not too many years ago when a 12.5 would almost certainly guarantee a spot on an international team. More recently, somewhere in the 12.4’s became the new standard. As of 2024, we can safely say that even a 12.40 will not punch you a ticket to the Games.
Those of you who know me know that I coached Keni Harrison in her last two years of high school, and that I root for her every time she races. This year started off in a difficult manner for her, as she was struggling with a hamstring and some nerve pain in the same leg. She ran slow in New York a few weeks before the trials, but had some great training sessions and entered the trials ready to earn a spot on the team. In the rounds she ran well, and in the final she looked a lot like her old self, getting out to a quick start and finishing in a season’s best 12.39.
But that was only good for sixth place. And it marked the first time a 12.3 did not make an international team. It was the fastest 6th-place time in any race, ever. The race was won by Masai Russell in a rip-roaring, no-holds-barred-no-time-for-move-fakin 12.25. Russell has always been exceptionally fast, but since turning pro her technique has improved noticeably, to the point where watching her run the hurdles is kind of awe-inspiring. Alaysha Johnson and Grace Stark both crossed the line in 12.31, with Johnson getting the nod for second by .007. Old-timer Nia Ali, who jogged through her opening-round race because she knew all she had to do was finish to qualify for the semis, was fourth in 12.37, and Tonea Marshall finished .01 behind Ali in 12.38.
While it would be rash to predict an American sweep in Paris, it’s not outside the realm of possibility, as these women are running podium-worthy times. It’s hard to imagine that there will be five or six women under 12.30 in the Olympic final, but it’s a distinct possibility.
I called Keni on the phone the day after the race, just to make sure she was okay (and she was; she’s looking forward to competing overseas and getting her time down further). During our brief chat, I made the observation to her that she is a big reason why the women’s race has gotten to be so insanely fast. When Keni ran 12.20 back in 2016, that world record race set a new standard. And now, the generation of hurdlers that followed behind her, and that she’s currently competing against, is racing to the standard that she helped to set. That’s how things often go in sports – what begins as a mind-blowing novelty later becomes the new normal.
Women’s 400 Meter Hurdles
There’s not much to say here besides “Sydney Mclaughlin” over and over again. What a beast. What a monster. What an insanely talented, focused competitor. Just when you thought it was safe to go outside, here comes Sydney with another mind-blowing performance. I remember feeling confused and irritated last year, when she basically abandoned the long hurdles in favor of the open 400 while Femke Bol was making dramatic improvements in her race, including switching to a stride pattern that matched Sydney’s – 14 strides through hurdle six and then 15 the rest of the way. But Sydney obviously knew what she was doing, and perhaps needed a mental break from her specialty event last year. The reason I got paranoid was because I feared she’d do so well in the open 400 that she wouldn’t come back to the long hurdles. And to most casual fans that would’ve been a great thing. To me and other hurdle junkies, it would’ve been a tragedy.
So yeah, she busted out a new world record of 50.65, and, incredibly enough, she made it look easy. Anna Cockrell, who ran a very impressive new personal best of 52.64, finished almost a full two seconds behind Sydney for second place. Jasmine Jones’ 52.77 was another super-impressive performance, earning her the third spot on the Olympic team. Veteran hurdler Shamier Little struggled toward the end of the race and didn’t quite make the team, although her time of 52.98 was also quite noteworthy. Four athletes under 53 is a big deal if you ask me.
The 400h hurdle final in Paris will definitely be electric. Right as I was sitting down to write this article, I found out that Femke Bol had just run 50.95 to break the European record in the event. Wowsers. If not for McLaughlin, we’d be talking about how insanely dominant Bol is in the long hurdles. As it stands, it’s going to be a HOT HOT HOT race in Paris, as I’m feeling pretty certain that both McLaughlin and Bol will break the world record that Sydney just set. I got McLaughlin winning, but not by a lot.
Men’s 110 Meter Hurdles
While it might be premature to say that Grant Holloway is the greatest high hurdler ever, he has definitely planted himself firmly in the conversation. Without a doubt, he is the greatest hurdler of the modern era – the post-Liu Xiang, Dayron Robles, Aries Merritt era. At the US Trials last month, Holloway demonstrated a remarkable consistency, running sub-13 every round, and topping it off with an exquisitely well-executed final in 12.86. That’s the second sub-12.90 of his career, making him, at least to my knowledge, the only hurdler in history to go under 12.90 more than once.
Even more impressive than the times is the technique and rhythm. His lead arm used to cross his body slightly, causing his trail leg to lag slightly. The trail leg would lag more noticeably late in races, which helped competitors to close in on him late in races. But in looking closely at his races at the Trials, we’re not seeing that lead arm swing to the other side. As a result, the trail leg is remaining high and tight the whole race. His momentum is constantly going forward, forward, forward, with no pauses, so moments of mini-pauses. It’s very aesthetically pleasing to watch, and I would argue that he is now unequivocally as difficult to beat outdoors as he has always been indoors.
I’ll go far as to say this: In addition to Allen Johnson and Liu Xiang, I would now include Holloway as a hurdler I would instruct a hurdler of mine to study. He’s technically sound, and he does an incredible job of tap dancing between the hurdles without taking his foot off the gas. Everything stays aligned the whole race – shoulders, hips, knees, eyes looking forward, chest pushing down. Love to see it.
Finishing second in 12.93 was Freddie Crittenden, a veteran hurdler who has bloomed into an outstanding hurdler late in his career. His race looked super-solid as well. Freddie is both powerful and fluid, and he doesn’t make mistakes. He’ll definitely be in the mix for a medal in Paris. The final qualifying spot went to Holloway’s old collegiate rival, Daniel Roberts, who also ran under 13, in 12.96. Wow, three dudes under 13! That’s some smoke.
Men’s 400 Meter Hurdles
Just like the women’s long hurdle race was all about Sydney McLaughlin, the men’s race was all about Rai Benjamin. Good googly moogly. This dude dropped a 46.46 with no one near him. He’s sticking to his 13-all-the-way stride pattern, and I like it, because it’s working for him and it takes the guess work out. Benjamin has dealt with injury in the past, but he’s looking healthy and fit now, ready to take on anyone in the world (looking at you, Warholm and Dos Santos).
In this race we had a total of four guys under 48.0, which would have been mind-blowing even four years ago, but hardly raises an eyebrow now. Congrats to CJ Allen, who finished second in 47.81, and Trevor Bassitt, who finished right behind him in 47.82. The US will send a stacked team to Paris in this event, but, most likely, only Benjamin will make it to the podium.
Why would that be? Because of the aforementioned Karsten Warholm and Alison Dos Santos. Both of them, along with Benjamin, have run under 47 this year. Last week, Benjamin beat both of them at a Diamond League meet in Monaco, which is huge for his confidence, but provides no guarantees regarding what will happen in Paris. Now, 45.94 is a ridiculous world record, so I’m not expecting that record to be broken in Paris, although it could. What I am expecting is for all three hurdlers to run under 46.50, and that most if not all of the athletes who make the finals will be under 48.
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