Eugene, Oregon, June 23–26, hosted the 2022 USATF Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field. This was the tenth time the U.S. championships have taken place in TrackTown USA. This meet served as the qualifying event for the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Oregon, which is set for July 15–24. Atlanta Track Club sent three ladies and two men to Eugene, all of whom competed in the 800m.
The men's 800m preliminary race was the opening event on the track. Daniel Nixon was in the second heat and was sitting on the shoulder of the defending world champion. Nixon finished 7th in his heat despite being beset by hamstring issues. Shane Streich, the indoor American 1000m record holder, was in the fourth and final heat. Streich put up a strong last 150m effort but fell two spots short of the automatic qualifier, finishing in fifth place with a 1:49.23.
The women's 800m race was up next. Olivia Baker and Sadi Henderson competed in the third heat. Baker took command of the race from the start clocking 57.69 seconds in the first 400m. This fast pace led her to an automatic qualifying spot into the semi-finals and 2nd place finish in 2:01.34. Henderson stayed in the top pack but finished 7th in 2:05.22. In the last heat, Allie Wilson sat comfortably in second place the entire race until the last 100m surging hard to take the win and advance to the semi-finals with a 2:01.95.
Baker and Wilson would compete in the same semi final heat on day two. This race was almost a preview of the finals. Six women went under two minutes, and Baker walked away with a Personal Best, breaking the 1:59 barrier for the first time in her career with a third-place finish in 1:58.46. Wilson finished fourth in 1:58.50, securing the first time-qualifying slot into the finals. Both ladies qualified for the final in under 1:59.
With temps in Eugene projected to reach the mid 90s on Sunday afternoon, USATF adjusted the Day four program to move races earlier and end the competition sooner. Wilson and Baker had their work cut out for them in the finals, facing off against the defending Olympic champion, Olympic bronze medalist, and reigning World Indoor Champion but both Wilson and Baker were well prepared.
Wilson and Baker came through the first 400m in 57 seconds. Baker was right on the leaders’ heels until 700m while Wilson surged hard the last 100m to get into contention for a top three spot. The TV analysts projected that the leader would break the race apart before the last turn, but viewers were rewarded with the pack remaining together and gritting hard down the final 100m. Wilson finished 4th in 1:58.35 and Baker finished 5th in 1:58.65. In arguably one of the fastest U.S. Women's finals 800m races, all 8 women were sub-2 minutes over two laps.
Gemma Finch represented the Elites in The Müller UK Athletics Championships at the Manchester Regional.The arena welcomed a cluster of superb performances and a host of World Championship qualifiers on a day of mixed weather conditions and considerable winds. Finch had the 4th fastest time in the preliminary heats. She placed 3rd in her heat with a 2:07.94 and had the fastest time qualifier of the day, advancing her to the finals the following day. In a tactical final, Finch rand home a 6th place finish in 2:08.60.
On June 26, 2022 at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port-of-Spain, sprinter Akeem Sirleaf was apart of Liberia's 4x100m team that ran 38.76, for a new Liberian National Record. This qualified them for the World Championships coming up in a few weeks in Eugene, OR. From July 15 through July 24, the World Athletics Championships will return to Hayward Field. The event will be held in the United States for the first time.
Semi-Final Post Race Chat: Allie WIlson & Olivia Baker
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July 2, 2022 American Track League Stars and Stripes Classic
