EUGENE, OR — After four intense days of competition, the 2025 U.S. Track and Field Trials have wrapped up at Hayward Field.
Sprinter Melissa Jefferson – Wooden stole the spotlight by clinching both the 100m and 200m titles, while Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone continued her dominance with a commanding win in the 400m. Noah Lyles added flair and fire as he claimed yet another national title in the 200m.
In the field events, Valarie Allman remained untouchable in the discus, and Tara Davis-Woodhall soared to the best long jump mark of the year. The championships also served as a qualifier for the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
Highlights:
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden won the 100m with a world-leading personal-best of 10.65 seconds, tied for the fifth-fastest in history. She completed the sprint double by winning the 200m in 21.84 seconds, the only sub-22 performance in the final. “I’ve dreamed of this moment,” she said. “Now the sky’s the limit.”
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone cruised to victory in the 400m with a time of 48.90, just shy of the long-standing American record. Already the world record holder in the 400m hurdles, she’s now excelling in her new event as well.
Kenny Bednarek claimed his first national title in the men’s 100m with a blazing personal-best of 9.79, the second-fastest time globally this season. “It’s about time,” he said.
Noah Lyles surged past Bednarek in the final meters of the 200m, clocking a world-leading 19.63 and taunting his rival at the finish. Bednarek, frustrated by the gesture, shoved Lyles after the race, calling it “unsportsmanlike.” Lyles fired back: “If they can’t beat me now, they never will.”
Masai Russell claimed the women’s 100m hurdles title in 12.22 seconds, crowning herself after the win. The reigning Olympic champ said she embraces the pressure of maintaining her status at the top.
Tara Davis-Woodhall leapt 23 feet, 4½ inches to take the long jump title with the best mark in the world this year. She’s building on momentum from her Olympic gold in Paris.
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Valarie Allman extended her unbeaten streak with a 234-foot, 5-inch throw in the discus, winning by a huge margin. The two-time Olympic gold medalist hasn’t lost since 2023.
Disappointments:
Track fans outside Oregon missed out. Despite Eugene’s iconic status as “Track Town, USA,” its remote location and limited tourist appeal have prompted calls for rotating the championship venue, Los Angeles, host of the 2028 Olympics, is a suggested alternative.
Sha’Carri Richardson made headlines off the track after being arrested for alleged domestic violence at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport. On the track, she failed to make the final in the women’s 200m.
Joe Kovacs, a two-time world champion in shot put, fell short with a fourth-place finish (72 feet, 5 inches). Josh Awotunde won the event with a personal-best 73 feet, 8¾ inches.
Athing Mu-Nikolayev, the American record holder and Tokyo Olympic gold medalist in the 800m, didn’t qualify for the World Championships. She placed fourth in her semifinal and didn’t advance on time, though she ran a season-best 1:59.79. Reflecting on her struggles, she said, “If you’re not mentally in it, then your body won’t be either.”
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