Another world record followed by “Duck, Duck, Goose!”

Cole Hocker and Matthew Centrowitz ignite the Hayward Field crowded with their finish in the 1500m final. Photo by Jay Bendlin

By Caela Fenton and Kate Walkup

The final day of the 2020 Track and Field Olympic Trials got off to an early start with the men’s 5,000m final being held at 10:00 a.m. to avoid the warmer temperatures projected for the afternoon.

Paul Chelimo (13:26.82), Grant Fisher (13:27.01) and Woody Kincaid (13:27.13) topped the podium in the 5,000. Oregon Duck Cooper Teare just missed making the team, finishing in fourth with a time of 13:28.08.

“The people that make me succeed are my coach, my family, my teammates and my friends,” Chelimo said. “These boys make it tough for me and that’s the reason why I work day in and day out because I know I'm not going to show up here and just win. I believe in one thing in life: go harder or suffer for the rest of your life.”  

Events were scheduled to resume at 1:00 p.m. with the second day of the heptathlon events, but after three events, competition was postponed due to temperatures reaching a dangerous level for the athletes’ safety. Competition resumed at 8:30 p.m. with the men’s long jump final.

In the women’s 400m hurdles, Sydney McLaughlin took gold, running a new world record of 51.90! Dalilah Muhammad, the former world record holder, followed for silver (52.42), and USC senior Anna Cockrell for bronze (53.70).

“It's an honor,” McLaughlin said post race. “So many amazing women have come before me so many amazing women will come after me. I just want to be able to leave my mark and be a part of such an amazing sport.”

The night for the men’s 1,500m final finally arrived and it lived up to the hype. University of Oregon freshman (!) Cole Hocker, defeated the reigning gold medallist Matthew Centrowitz.

Hocker ran a personal record of 3:35.28. Centrowitz finished in 3:35.34 and Yared Nuguse finished in third, running a time of 3:36.19.  

“At this time last year, if you’d have told me that I would have won the 1,500m at Trials, I’d be lying to you if I said that I wouldn’t have been shocked,” Hocker said. “But throughout the season, I’ve just been proving myself and to myself that I can run here, and I belong here.”

The much anticipated women’s 800m final did not disappoint. Athing Mu ran a personal record, meet record and new world lead of 1:56.07. Former Duck Raevyn Rogers ran a personal record of 1:57.66 and Ajee’ Wilson finished with a season best of 1:58.39 to make up the team for Tokyo.

Athing Mu leads the way in the women’s 800m final, running a world leading 1:56.07. Photo by How Lao

“I Just wanted to start making my move and start moving in the race,” Mu said. “And then the backstretch, I just kept going, kept my composure by not going too much, and I think the last 200 is where I really started to gear up and move my legs. The last 100 I just gave it literally all I had and just ran all the way through the line in case there was anyone nearby.”

No one was even close to Mu—Rogers finished over a second and a half behind.

Going into the 800m of the heptathlon, Annie Kunz was in second and had not yet achieved the Olympic standard. After setting personal records in three of the seven events, Kunz set a personal record of 6,703 points, achieving the Olympic standard and winning the event. Kendall Williams (6,683) and Erica Bougard (6,667) took second and third. The three heptathletes are headed to Tokyo with the three highest rankings in the world this year.

JuVaughn Harrison (2.33m), Darryl Sullivan (2.33m) and Shelby McEwen (2.30m) emerged victorious in the men’s high jump final.

In the men’s long jump JuVaughn Harrison jumped a personal record of 8.47m to win the Trials just after taking home gold in the high jump. He was joined on the podium by Marquis Dendy (8.38m) and Steffin McCarter (8.26m).

LSU’s Ju’Vaughn Harrison soars to victory in the men’s long jump after already claiming the Olympic Trials high jump title earlier in the day. Photo by Jay Bendlin

The men’s 200m final closed out the U.S. Olympic Trials. Noah Lyles (19.74) took gold, followed by Kenny Bednarek (19.78) and Erriyon Knighton (19.84). Knighton is only 17 years old, making him the youngest man to make the U.S. Olympic team since 1964.