McLaughlin-Levrone, Russell book World Championship berths at US trials
McLaughlin-Levrone, the two-time Olympic 400m hurdles champion and golden girl of American track, stormed to victory in the 400m flat as she targets a new world title at Tokyo in September.
Russell, the Olympic 100m hurdles champion, was similarly impressive, with a flawless performance delivering victory in 12.22secs at Eugene's Hayward Field.
But while Paris Olympics gold medallists McLaughlin-Levrone and Russell delivered, there was an upset in the men's 1,500m, where Olympic champion Cole Hocker finished in third.
McLaughlin-Levrone signalled she could well be in the hunt for gold in Tokyo after blasting to victory in 48.90secs, taking the tape ahead of Isabella Whittaker (49.59secs) and Aaliyah Butler in 49.91 secs.
'I felt like this is the year I wanted to step out of the box and really push myself in a different way,' McLaughlin-Levrone said of her decision to switch to 400m.
'Obviously it's uncomfortable, but I wanted to commit to it and I'm committed to it. Just excited to see where I can push myself,' she told AFP.
Russell, who achieved a breakthrough major title with gold in Paris last year, will be the woman to beat in Tokyo on Saturday's evidence.
The 25-year-old executed flawlessly to come home ahead of Grace Stark (12.31) and Alaysha Johnson (12.36).
Russell started this season in prime form, clocking a US record 12.17secs in May before an ankle injury threatened to derail her season.
ALSO READ | Murali Sreeshankar continues strong form with win at Qosanov Memorial in Almaty
However she looked back to her best in Saturday's win.
'I could have shut down my season two months ago when I couldn't walk. But I was like 'This is the goal',' Russell said.
'Winning the Olympics put a little bit more pressure on me. Because I feel I have a standard to uphold. People expect something from the reigning Olympic champion,' she added.
Hocker upset
A thrilling battle in the men's 1,500m saw Olympic champion Hocker upstaged by Kenyan-born Jonah Koech.
Hocker found himself boxed in with 200 to go, and despite a strong finishing kick, was unable to reel in Koech and second-place Ethan Strand.
Koech won in a time of 3min 30.17sec, ahead of Strand in 3:30.25. Hocker was third in 3:30.37.
'Winning was not the number one priority today, but I'm not gonna lie -- it always stinks a little not to,' Hocker said.
'I think if today was a world final, I'd have run that race a lot differently. In the back of my head today, above all, above winning was to move on and get top three,' he added.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Olympic 400m hurdles champion Rai Benjamin eased into Sunday's final with a comfortable victory in the heats.
Benjamin never looked in danger on his way to winning his heat in 47.45secs, the fastest time of qualifying.
In the men's 400m, Jacory Patterson advanced to Tokyo with a win in 44.16secs, the latest milestone of his fairytale journey to elite sprinting.
The 25-year-old juggled his athletic career with a job working an overnight shift loading delivery trucks for UPS until recently, working his final shift in June.
'I'm waiting for someone to pinch me. I don't know, it just feels like a dream,' Patterson said afterwards.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
39 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Trump to sign order creating task force for 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
Trump has been an enthusiastic booster for major international sporting events scheduled to occur in the US under his watch, boasting about both the Olympics and the 2026 FIFA World Cup Bloomberg President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order on Tuesday establishing a task force for the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, which will be held in Los Angeles during his term. 'During his first term, President Trump was instrumental in securing America's bid to host the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles,' said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, adding that the president would work to make the event 'the most exciting and memorable in history.' 'The President considers it a great honor to oversee this global sporting spectacle in his second term,' according to her statement Monday. The executive order creating the task force was first reported by Reuters. Trump has been an enthusiastic booster for major international sporting events scheduled to occur in the US under his watch, boasting about both the Olympics and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 'I got the World Cup and I have the Olympics and I did it,' Trump said at an event in Iowa in July. Trump tapped a similar task force earlier this year for the World Cup that will be hosted in the US, Canada and Mexico next year, appointing Andrew Giuliani, the son of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani — one of the president's staunchest allies — to be its director. That task force was established to coordinate departments and agencies across the federal government to assist in organizing and carrying out the World Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup, a separate tournament that was held earlier this year. Both the Olympics and the World Cup are expected to draw large numbers of spectators — as well as many international tourists — bringing logistical and security challenges. Some Trump administration critics have expressed concerns that his effort to crack down on undocumented immigration and restrict travel from some countries could complicate efforts to host those sporting events. Trump has promised he will facilitate travel and visa access for World Cup teams and supporters. The president has regularly attended premier sporting events since his return to office, including the Super Bowl, Daytona 500, a UFC fight, the NCAA men's wrestling championships and the FIFA Club World Cup final, which took place in New Jersey. And he often weighs in sports-world controversies. Trump blasted the Opening Ceremony for the 2024 Olympics in Paris as 'a disgrace' over a performance that some viewers believed to be a depiction of Leonardo da Vinci's 'The Last Supper,' even though organizers denied there was a religious reference.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
TG athletes can gain from new sports policy
If Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has his say and goes all-out to implement his ambitious sports agenda, then the State, and its capital city in particular, will boast of world-class sports infrastructure across disciplines in the next couple of years. On the face of it, this is a praiseworthy effort as the bane of the Indian political apparatus has been the insipid promotion of sports, baring a select few. Budgetary allocations for sports have never been inspirational. In fact, the neglect is such that some allocations have been reduced here and there. The ambitiously carved out 32-page sports policy unveiled by Revanth Reddy the other day makes for a wonderful reading as he promises everything under the moon to realise his dream of making the state the hub of international sports. The comprehensive vision lays stress on strengthening governance, boosting infrastructure, and ushering in a breathtaking sports ecosystem that would result in the emergence of medal-winning athletes. There is no doubt that once he goes about the implementation process and enhances budgetary allocations, there would be smiles on the faces of countless sportspersons, coaches and the support staff. Over a period, Telangana can indeed be the envy of the nation going by the manner it brings about the best of infrastructure and sports avenues, including supporting budding talent coming from the poorer strata. Alas, carried away by the moment, Reddy revealed the politician in him when he spoke rather exaggeratedly that Hyderabad would be fit enough to host some Olympic disciplines by 2036. This is too ambitious a remark given that preparing grounds and facilities and putting in place infrastructure of an extraordinary kind for the mega event is no child's play. What the city has, as of now, is not sound enough to host even a fraction of the events that feature in Olympics. He should take cue from his political mentor N Chandrababu Naidu, who, in his effort to provide the best of facilities for the 2002 National Games, came up with the finest stadiums and playing surfaces. Budget was no problem. J Jayalalithaa constructed the magnificent JN stadium in nine months. Can Revanth Reddy emulate these records? The fact is that the stadiums constructed by Naidu like GMC Balayogi athletics stadium, KVBR stadium, tennis complex and the velodrome are all outdated as the wear and tear must have worn them out. They need to be refurbished before the city is good enough to host the National Games two years down the line, towards which Reddy is to approach the Indian Olympic Association. However, realising the herculean task that lies up ahead, the Chief Minister has played his masterstroke-a Public Private Participation (PPP). This will go a long way in helping him realise the dream of nurturing Olympic gold medallists and world champions across disciplines. Adding to this is the smart move to constitute a 14-member Board of Governors to oversee handling of the Telangana Sports Development Fund (TSDF). Featuring some big names from the world of sports and industry, including Kapil Dev, Abhinav Bindra, Pullela Gopichand and Bhaichung Bhutia, it will be headed by industrialist Sanjeev Goenka, which ensures transparent and accountable utilisation of resources that will be raised through the PPP mode. A good beginning has been made as the state was able to sign MoUs with many keen investors and sponsors. This can help promote exchange programmes with other nations and invest in proven international coaches. Hopefully, this will mark the beginning of rewarding days for sportspersons from Telangana.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Sidney Crosby slammed for bizarre superstition that bans his mom and sister on game days
Sidney Crosby's meticulous game-day rituals include a strict silence rule with his mother and sister (Getty Images) When it comes to game-day preparation, few NHL stars are as notoriously meticulous as Sidney Crosby. But what many fans might not know is that one of Crosby's most bizarre rituals involves a strict rule of silence—with his own mother and sister. And it's not just personal preference—it's rooted in superstition, family tradition, and a string of freak injuries that turned belief into an unbreakable habit. A broken foot, a concussion, and a ritual that stuck for life Back in 2015, Sidney Crosby's sister Taylor Crosby revealed the strange routine at a Scotiabank Champions for Change event in Halifax. She shared that she and their mother, Trina, avoid any form of communication with Sidney on game days. 'He can't talk to me or my mother on game days,' Taylor explained. 'It all started when he was playing junior. He talked to me before a game and then he separated his shoulder.' Taylor added that Sidney once tried to break the superstition years later. He called their mother before a game—only to suffer a broken foot soon after. At the 2011 Winter Classic, even a chance encounter was enough to trigger misfortune. 'He saw me in the hallway and ended up with a concussion,' Taylor said, underscoring how seriously they take the ritual. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Learn 57+ Languages Easily with AI [Join] Talkpal AI Undo Even during international tournaments like the World Championships in Prague, the family went to great lengths to avoid breaking the streak—staying holed up in their hotel room just to avoid 'jinxing' anything. Sidney Crosby's superstitions go far beyond family silence In a 2020 interview with Crosby himself admitted to having a long list of timed rituals. 'Oh, yeah. I've got a few of those... Everything is pretty timed. I have a long list. You don't want to hear it,' he laughed. From taping his stick at the same time to re-tying his skates starting with his right foot, every detail matters. Also Read: Alex Ovechkin reflects on breaking Wayne Gretzky's goal record, says the moment hasn't fully sunk in yet One fan-favorite tradition? During warm-ups, he always takes a backhand shot exactly when the arena clock strikes 5:00. For Crosby, routine is more than comfort—it's part of what's made him one of the greatest to ever play the game. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
