What Happened at the U.S. Olympic Trials

The top five in the women’s 5,000 meters were Molly Huddle, Shelby Houlihan, Kim Conley, Emily Infeld, and Abbey D’Agostino. But because Huddle and Infeld had already qualified for the Games in the 10,000 meters, and indicated they’d run only that event in Rio, the Olympic team in the 5,000 is Houlihan, Conley, and D’Agostino. 

Brenda Martinez took third in the women’s 1500-meter final, six days after she was tripped during the 800. Olympic veteran Jenny Simpson won in 4:04.74, while Shannon Rowbury took second in 4:05.39.

Matt Centrowitz had a commanding win in the men’s 1500, running 3:34.09 and breaking the Olympic Trials record. Robby Andrews was second and Ben Blankenship was third.

Tori Bowie won the the women’s 200-meter final in 22.25. She’ll go to Rio in the 100 meters, also. Deajah Stevens and Jenna Prandini were second and third, with Prandini inching out Allyson Felix, the reigning Olympic gold medalist, for fourth. 

In the women’s 400-meter hurdles, Dalilah Muhammad won in 52.88 over Ashley Spencer and Sydney McLaughlin, who is only 16.

In the men's 400-meter hurdles, Kerron Clement, Byron Robinson, and Michael Tinsley finished top three. 

In heptathlon, Barbara Nwaba, Heather Miller-Koch, and Kendell Williams represent Team USA. 

In a thrilling last lap of the men’s 5,000-meter final, Bernard Lagat, 41, outsprinted his younger competitors to earn a spot on his fifth Olympic team. Hassan Mead was second and Paul Chelimo was third.  

Lagat staged a memorable trackside celebration.

Justin Gatlin earned his second 2016 Olympic berth, winning the men’s 200 meters in 19.75.

University of Oregon wide receiver Devon Allen won the final of the men’s 110-meter hurdles in 13.03. 
 
Allyson Felix coasted to the women’s 200-meter final, placing second in her semifinal heat in 22.57.

Evan Jager won the steeplechase and made his second Olympic team. Behind him, after a chaotic final lap, Hillary Bor and Donn Cabral also made the team bound for Rio. 

In the men’s 1500 semifinals, Jordan McNamara was disqualified, then reinstated, so 13 men advanced to the final. In the women’s 1500, Jenny Simpson, Shannon Rowbury, and Brenda Martinez looked strong in advancing. 

In the women’s 100-meter hurdles, Brianna Rollins, Kristi Castlin, and Nia Ali made Team USA. 

Emma Coburn won the women’s steeplechase, with a dominant final 800 meters. She set a new Olympic Trials record. In a dramatic final lap, Courtney Frerichs and Colleen Quigley finished second and third to make the team. 

In heats of the women’s 5,000, most of the favorites advanced to the final. Molly Huddle said she would likely not run the event in Rio if she finishes in the top three on Saturday. 

In the first-round heats of women’s 1500 meters, all but three runners are on to the final. In the men’s 1500, five men were eliminated. The semifinals are on Friday. 

Chaos reigned in the women’s 800-meter final. Stumbles knocked out two favorites—Alysia Montaño and Brenda Martinez—allowing Kate Grace, Ajee’ Wilson, and Chrishuna Williams to book their tickets to Rio. Meanwhile, Molly Ludlow, 28, finished 0.04 seconds behind the leaders. It’s the third heartbreaking fourth place in her career. 

In the men’s 800, young Clayton Murphy finished in first, and will be joined by Boris Berian and Charles Jock at the Olympics.

In the first round of the men’s 5,000 meters, Bernard Lagat, 41, earned a spot in the finals with a first-place finish in his heat. Fifteen other athletes, including Ben True, Hassan Mead, and Galen Rupp, will join Lagat for the final on Saturday.

Steeplechase favorites Evan Jager and Emma Coburn made their first appearances of the trials, easily winning their heats to move on to the finals.

After four days of competition at the trials, things slow down for a couple days. No events are scheduled for Tuesday, and the only competition Wednesday is in the women’s and men’s hammer throw. 

Track events resume Thursday, with the final of the women’s steeplechase, the first round of the women’s 5,000 meters, the first round of the women’s 1500 meters, and the first round of the men’s 1500 meters, among other events.

Five event finals were held, sending 15 athletes to Rio. Ashton Eaton won the decathlon, earning his second Olympic berth, with 8750 points. Jeremy Taiwo was second, and Zach Ziemek was third. It was a closer competition than Eaton is used to.  

Allyson Felix won the 400 meters, the first step in her stated goal to qualify in two events, the 400 and the 200. LaShawn Merritt was the men’s 400-meter champion in 43.97.

The women’s 100 meters was won by English Gardner. Men’s 100-meter champion Justin Gatlin is joined on the team by two new faces, Trayvon Bromell and Marvin Bracy.

Molly Huddle continued her dominance in the 10,000, winning in 31:41.62 while Emily Infeld was second—and she was very happy about it. Marielle Hall was third.

Boris Berian looked strong in advancing to the final of the men’s 800 meters.

Four favorites advanced to the final of the women’s 800 meters: Ajee’ Wilson, Alysia Montaño, Brenda Martinez, and Kate Grace. Who will be left out? 

Galen Rupp won the men’s 10,000 with a furious kick in the final lap to outpace Shadrack Kipchirchir. Leonard Korir finished in third, while several prerace favorites faded in the heat.  

Sanya Richards-Ross DNFed and afterward sounded like she was calling it a career.

In the men’s 800, Boris Berian advanced, while Duane Solomon, who was fourth in London, did not.