Friday 5 Minute Olympic Trials Recap: Holloway Blasts 12.86, Kessler & Miller go Sub-1:44, Lyles Runs 19.60
Grant Holloway delivered in the only final of the day, Hobbs Kessler and Brandon Miller impressed in the 800-meter semifinals
By Harper Clark and Joseph Carroll
The eighth day of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials offered plenty of excitement. In the lone track final, Grant Holloway did something he almost never does — hit a hurdle — but he still ran 12.86 and won his second straight US Olympic Trials, leading two other men under 13 seconds, making it the first race in history with three sub-13s.
The times were also super fast in most of Friday’s semis. Fresh off qualifying for the Olympics in the 1500, Hobbs Kessler clocked 1:43.71 in the semis of the 800, while Noah Lyles ran the fastest 200m in Olympic Trials history — 19.60, but the 2.5 m/s wind will prevent it from being a Trials record. Sha’Carri Richardson equaled her pb in the semis of the women’s 200 (21.92) but she was only the second-fastest woman on the day as Gabby Thomas ran a world-leading 21.78.
We don’t want to spoil all the fun so we broke down every event below for your convenience except for the historically great men’s 110 hurdles final which will get its own recap here.
*Full Results can be found here
| Place | Athlete | Team/Organization | Result | Notes |
| 1 | Grant Holloway | adidas OLY STD | 12.86 | WL |
| 2 | Freddie Crittenden | Tracksmith/Phoenix TC-Tracksmi | 12.93 | PB |
| 3 | Daniel Roberts | NIKE OLY STD | 12.96 | PB |
| 4 | Cordell Tinch | NIKE OLY STD | 13.03 | SB |
| 5 | Ja’Qualon Scott | Texas A&M OLY STD | 13.09 | PB |
| 6 | Cameron Murray | Unattached OLY STD | 13.15 | PB |
| 7 | Michael Dickson | More Sports MG OLY STD | 13.21 | |
| 8 | Devion Wilson | Houston OLY STD | 13.28 | |
| 9 | Trey Cunningham | adidas OLY STD | 13.39 |
Men’s 800 Semifinals: Kessler & Miller break 1:44, Hoppel looks comfortable in 1:44.01 clocking
Heat 1:
In a field that included two Olympians, it was unheralded Josh Hoey who walked (ran) away with the win; clocking 1:45.73–just ahead of defending Trials champion, Clayton Murph. Darius Smallwood of Penn State led the field at the bell–coming through in 51.98 seconds; just ahead of Isaiah Harris. Harris would take the lead on the backstretch and hold it until the homestretch, where he was ultimately overtaken and finished in fourth, he would not qualify for the final.
Hoey said after the race he has cycled through five or six coaches and struggled with confidence since turning pro with adidas straight out of high school in 2018. But this year, his first under coach Justin Rinaldi, Hoey has dropped his pb from 1:47.26 to 1:45.35 and now has a shot to make his first team.
Isaiah Harris was devastated to miss the final but praised the depth of US 800m running right now
Harris made the team last year and had made every US final since his freshman year at Penn State in 2016. He was sad to see that streak and his dream of making this year’s Olympic team end in the semis, but said the event is very competitive in the US right now, with nine guys under 1:45 and three under 1:44 so far this year.
“I’m tired of everyone outside the fact saying the 800’s weak in the US,” Harris said. “It’s so deep right now.”
Heat 2:
In a massive PB, Hobbs Kessler won this heat in 1:43.71 (previous pb of 1:45.05). It was Charles Jones who paced the field through a quick 51.14. Brandon Miller moved to the lead with 300 to go and Kessler would slot in behind him at 600. The pair was clear of the field as they fought the final 100 with Miller getting out-leaned, running 1:43.73 for second. The rest of the heat was quick with Abraham Alvarado running 1:44.44 to qualify in third and Georgetown freshman Tinoda Matsatsa, who didn’t even qualify for NCAAs, finishing in fourth running in 1:45.12. Initially, he was the first man out of the final but now Matsatsa is in the final as Eric Holt was DQd in heat 3.
Heat 3:
World indoor champ Bryce Hoppel wasted no time getting through to the final, running 1:44.01 from gun to tape for the win. After hitting the bell in 51.29 seconds, Hoppel pulled away and looked comfortable crossing the line. Jonah Koech finished in second, nearly half a second behind Hoppel. Behind them, UVA’s Shane Cohen, the NCAA champion, was using his signature kick to make the final on time as Cohen ran his final 100 in a ridiculous 12.34 to move from 6th to 3rd and get in on time at 1:44.92. The recently sponsored Eric Holt initially nabbed the final-time qualifying spot, clocking 1:45.05. He then hugged Cohen and was ecstatic but soon was told he was DQ’d for a lane infraction on the first turn. Holt’s appeal was denied which means he will not run the final.
Shane Cohen said he will need to be closer to the front to have a shot in the final
Eric Holt found out he was DQ’d in the mixed zone
MB: Eric Holt DQ
| Heat One | ||||
| Place | Athlete | Team/Organization | Mark | LN/POS |
| 9 | Josh Hoey | adidas | 1:45.73 Q | 4 |
| 11 | Clayton Murphy | NIKE | 1:45.76 Q | 7 |
| 15 | Isaiah Harris | BROOKS Beasts TC | 1:46.21 | 8 |
| 16 | Isaiah Jewett | NIKE | 1:46.33 | 6 |
| 19 | Wes Ferguson | Nebraska-Kearney | 1:47.20 | 5 |
| 20 | Cass Elliott | Under Armour Mission Run Balt | 1:47.70 | 9 |
| 22 | Darius Smallwood | Penn State | 1:48.82 | 3 |
| 24 | Nick Plant | Virginia Tech | 1:49.13 | 2 |
| 26 | Zephaniah Carico-Mclennan | Samford | 1:51.85 | 1 |
| Heat Two | ||||
| Place | Athlete | Team/Organization | Mark | LN/POS |
| 1 | Hobbs Kessler | adidas | 1:43.71 Q | 8 |
| 2 | Brandon Miller | Brooks/BROOKS Beasts TC | 1:43.73 Q | 6 |
| 4 | Abraham Alvarado | Unattached | 1:44.44 q | 4 |
| 7 | Tinoda Matsatsa | Georgetown | 1:45.12 q | 5 |
| 8 | Darius Kipyego | Iowa State | 1:45.40 | 9 |
| 10 | Sam Whitmarsh | Texas A&M | 1:45.74 | 7 |
| 13 | Charles Jones | Under Armour | 1:45.99 | 2 |
| 17 | Benjamin Allen | Empire Elite TC | 1:46.46 | 3 |
| 21 | Bobby Poynter | Tracksmith | 1:48.41 | 1 |
| Heat Three | ||||
| Place | Athlete | Team/Organization | Mark | LN/POS |
| 3 | Bryce Hoppel | adidas | 1:44.01 Q | 5 |
| 5 | Jonah Koech | Under Armour | 1:44.47 Q | 8 |
| 6 | Shane Cohen | Virginia | 1:44.92 q | 6 |
| 12 | Brannon Kidder | Brooks/BROOKS Beasts TC | 1:45.81 | 3 |
| 14 | Matt Wisner | Unattached | 1:46.09 | 1 |
| 18 | Vincent Crisp | Under Armour/UA MRB | 1:47.17 | 7 |
| 23 | Camden Marshall | Indiana | 1:48.95 | 4 |
| 25 | Sam Ellis | On | 1:51.04 | 2 |
| DQ | Eric Holt |
Puma/Empire Elite
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9 | |
Women’s 1500 Semifinals: Hiltz wins the heat of death, collegian Maggi Congdon runs 4:02
Heat 1: World indoor medalist Nikki Hiltz took the win in the first heat with a strong final 100 running 4:01.40. The first lap of the heat was taken by Virginia Tech’s Lindsey Butler who brought the field out in 48 seconds before relinquishing the lead to Heather MacLean who slowed the pace down to a 67.28 second lap. Elle St. Pierre had enough of pushing the pace the next lap running a 64.13. Six were together at the bell with five auto qualifiers but soon Sage Hurta-Klecker was dropped with 300 to go so there was little question as to who would make the final automatically. Sinclaire Johnson, Heather MacLean, Cory McGee, and Elle St. Pierre took the automatic qualifying spots.
Heat 2: Elise Cranny took a different approach from her 1500-meter prelim and put her foot on the gas from the gun, leading the pack through 800 meters in 2:10.28. But after a move from Addy Wiley at the bell, Cranny would ultimately finish in second–only behind Emily Mackay, who won in 4:02.46. The biggest run of the second heat belonged to NAU’s Maggi Congdon; who ran 4:02.79–good for a 5.02 second personal best. Super impressive for someone who didn’t even score at NCAAs (9th). The second heat would account for the time qualifiers: Dani Jones and Christina Aragon.
It’s interesting that Harvard’s Maia Ramsden (not running in this meet as she is from New Zealand) dominated the NCAA 1500 so easily three weeks ago considering how fast some of her opponents have run since then. Ramsden’s pb is 4:02.58; Congdon nearly surpassed that today and NCAA 3rd placer Klaudia Kazimierska of Oregon (4:01.89) ran faster than both of them in her native Poland last week.
Heat One
| Place | Athlete | Team/Organization | Mark | LN/POS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nikki Hiltz | lululemon | 4:01.40 Q | 5 |
| 2 | Sinclaire Johnson | NIKE/Nike Union AC | 4:01.68 Q | 2 |
| 3 | Heather MacLean | New Balance/New Balance Boston | 4:02.09 Q | 10 |
| 4 | Cory McGee | New Balance | 4:02.09 Q | 12 |
| 5 | Elle St. Pierre | New Balance Boston | 4:02.14 Q | 6 |
| 14 | Sage Hurta-Klecker | OAC | 4:08.07 | 1 |
| 15 | Eleanor Fulton | Unattached | 4:08.27 | 11 |
| 20 | Angel Piccirillo | PUMA/Puma Elite Running | 4:10.39 | 7 |
| 21 | Lindsey Butler | Virginia Tech | 4:12.18 | 3 |
| 22 | Gracie Hyde | Unattached | 4:12.79 | 9 |
| 23 | Allie Buchalski | BROOKS Beasts TC | 4:13.22 | 4 |
| 24 | Stephanie Brokaw | Unattached | 4:19.28 | 8 |
Heat Two
| Place | Athlete | Team/Organization | Mark | LN/POS |
| 6 | Emily Mackay | New Balance Boston | 4:02.46 Q | 5 |
| 7 | Elise Cranny | NIKE | 4:02.56 Q | 6 |
| 8 | Helen Schlachtenhaufen | NIKE | 4:02.68 Q | 4 |
| 9 | Maggi Congdon | Northern Arizona | 4:02.79 Q | 1 |
| 10 | Addy Wiley | adidas | 4:02.92 Q | 7 |
| 11 | Dani Jones | New Balance | 4:04.45 q | 9 |
| 12 | Christina Aragon | NIKE/Bowerman TC | 4:05.36 q | 11 |
| 13 | Anna Camp-Bennett | adidas | 4:05.62 | 12 |
| 16 | Alexina Teubel | Unattached | 4:09.16 | 10 |
| 17 | Ella Donaghu | Nike Union AC | 4:09.68 | 8 |
| 18 | Anna Gibson | Brooks | 4:09.75 | 2 |
| 19 | Jenn Randall | Unattached | 4:10.29 | 3 |
Women’s 110H Prelims: Masai Russell runs fastest time of the day, Nia Ali jogs
Heat 1:
Tonea Marshall got out well in the middle of the track and never looked back running 12.41 to win her heat. Last year’s fifth-place finisher Tia Jones struggled finishing fourth in the heat in her first race since tearing her ACL in February.
Heat 2:
In a heat where everyone would advance, Masai Russell and Alaysha Johnson decided to make a statement. Johnson got out of the blocks quickly but was hunted down by Russell who ran a personal best of 12.35 while Johnson would run a season’s best of 12.37.
Heat 3:
Christina Clemons had no problem taking down her heat running 12.56 to win the heat by .21. World champion Nia Ali decided to take the day off however, knowing that everyone would advance out of her heat she jogged a 20.38 to finish last by over six seconds. Ali said that her warmup did not go as planned and wanted to make sure she was putting herself in the best position to make the team.
Heat 4:
Keni Harrison was not fazed by the NCAA champion Grace Stark, besting her in a time of 12.49–a season’s best. At 41 years old, Lolo Jones, who last made the Olympics in 2012, finished in last place, running 14.86.
Men’s 200 Semifinals: Lyles clocks windy 19.60
Heat 1:
Erriyon Knighton hasn’t missed a beat coming back from his preliminary suspension, running 19.93 for the convincing win in the first semifinal. Despite a poor reaction to the gun, Knighton strode away from Kyree King down the homestretch. King would finish in second, crossing the line in 20.25 seconds.
Heat 2:
World leader Kenny Bednarek had no trouble advancing winning from gun to tape with a 19.96. He was followed the entire way by Courtney Lindsey who took the second automatic qualifying spot in 20.05.
Heat 3:
It took Noah Lyles 19.60 seconds to cross the line in the last semifinal. With a barely illegal wind reading of 2.5 meters/second, Lyles looked extremely comfortable down the homestretch. Christian Coleman finished in second, running 19.89, ahead of Florida’s Robert Gregory, who posted a 19.98.
Women’s 200 Semis: Gabby Thomas and Sha’Carri Richardson Impress
Heat 1:
It was all world champion Sha’Carri Richardson down the home straight today as she ran a 21.92 to tie her PB as she cruised across the line. The heat was brought out by Jenna Prandini who got out of the blocks well and was caught as she rounded the turn. Prandini was able to hold on for second, running a season’s best 22.26.
Heat 2:
McKenzie Long continues to win over the half-lap distance, using a strong final 50 meters to reel in Brittany Brown and Tamari Davis and winning the second heat in 22.01. Davis would qualify on time.
Heat 3:
Gabby Thomas ran an amazing turn and never looked back, blasting a world-leading 21.78 while easing up at the line. Behind her the entire time was Abby Steiner who ran 22.03 to take the second automatic spot. Tamara Clark ran 22.12 to qualify for the final on time.
Men’s 400 Hurdles Semi-Finals: Rai Benjamin Shuts Down Field
Heat 1:
Over the final 150, it was world medalist Trevor Bassitt who pulled away to win his semi-final in 49.02. It was Alabama’s Chris Robinson who was out quickly through the first half of the race before getting passed by Bassitt on the turn. Robinson almost ran out of steam the final straight but was able to fend off an attack from James Smith.
Heat 2:
Caleb Dean continues his positive momentum from NCAA’s–beating Khallifah Rosser in 48.92 seconds. Dean took the lead over the first hurdle and never looked back, building a good lead over the final 200 meters. Vance Nilsson, who set the U.S. HS record over the 300-meter hurdles earlier this year, finished in third, running 49.77; good for a new personal best.
Heat 3:
Are we even surprised? It was all Rai Benjamin as he got out quick and then stepped off the gas running 47.97 to win his heat. Last year’s second placer at USA’s CJ Allen sat behind and got dragged to a 48.16 to finish second in the heat. This heat was the fastest one as Aldrich Bailey was in third but was quicker than all the other heats running 48.69. David Kendziera also made it on time as well, running 49.22.
Field Roundup
In women’s javelin, all the top contenders made it through the round as Kara Winger threw 63.01 m for the farthest throw in qualifying. In the men’s hammer, Rudy Winkler had the best throw in qualifiers with a 77.08 m third throw while all the major players also made it through in the women’s pole vault. The same was true in the men’s triple as Russell Robinson of Miami had the best jump in qualifying with a 17.14. Women’s shot also advanced all the major contenders as world champion Chase Jackson threw 19.66 m to have the best throw in qualifying.
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Official Olympic Trials Thread
Eric Holt DQ / After qualifying for the 800-meter final, Eric Holt was disqualified
Hobbs Kessler Breaks 1:44 / Kessler ran a 1.36-second PB
