This story was originally published by Dead Spin
Grant Holloway won the men’s 110-meter hurdles while heavily favored Noah Lyles cruised into the finals of the men’s 200 meters on Friday at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials in Eugene, Ore.
Holloway, who set the meet record in the event of 12.81 seconds on Wednesday, finished in 12.86 on Friday. That was still enough to leave him ahead of Freddie Crittenden (12.93) and Daniel Roberts (12.96).
The top three in each event qualify for the Paris Olympics if they have the requisite time or distance.
In the men’s 200 semifinal, Lyles topped his heat at 19.60 seconds. He finished comfortably ahead of the competitors but well behind his national record of 19.31 set at the same site in 2022.
“That felt real easy,” Lyles said after the race on NBC, according to USA Today. “I was very shocked to see that time pop up. I wasn’t even really trying. Shut down pretty hard at the end, too.”
Christian Coleman, who ran in Lyles’ heat, had the second-best qualifying time in 19.89. He was followed by Erriyon Knighton (19.93) and Kenny Bednarek (19.96), who both won their heats.
In the women’s 200 semifinals, Gabby Thomas (21.78 seconds), Sha’Carri Richardson (21.92) and McKenzie Long (22.01) won their heats while producing the top three times.
Thomas said, according to USA Today, “I was a little surprised, I know I’m in shape and I’m ready to run, but it felt like such a nice, controlled run for me. I didn’t expect to run that fast feeling that good, so it kinda excites me for (Saturday).”
Richardson equaled her personal best.
“I’m just looking forward to (Saturday) and just busting it wide open,” Richardson said on NBC, per USA Today.
In the men’s 800-meter semifinals, Hobbs Kessler (1 minute, 43.71 seconds) barely edged Brandon Miller (1:43.73) in their heat as they ran the two fastest overall times. Bryce Hoppel (1:44.01) and Abraham Alvarado (1:44.44) had the next-best qualifying times.
Rai Benjamin, two days after establishing a meet record of 46.83 in the men’s 400 hurdles, logged the best semifinal time, 47.97. He was followed by CJ Allen (48.16), Aldrich Bailey (48.69) and Caleb Dean (48.92).
In the women’s 1,500 semifinals, Nikki Hiltz (4:01.40) and Sinclaire Johnson (4:01.68) came in first and second, while Heather MacLean and Cory McGee tied for third at 4:02.09.
–Field Level Media
