Tara Davis-Woodhall avoids disaster, then claims long jump title at U.S. Trials; Chase Jackson wins shot put - Day Nine wrap
Tara Davis-Woodhall's Olympic dreams came down to one jump.
The reigning world indoor champion and outdoor silver medallist scratched on both her first two jumps on Saturday (29 June) in the final of the women's long jump at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - track & field, meaning she got just one last attempt to earn three more.
She did just that, her 6.64m third effort putting her in fifth place and buying her three more chances. It was there that the 25-year-old soared to a 7.00m (22 feet, 11 inches) surpassing early leader Jasmine Moore (6.98m), who would finish in second. With her finish, Moore is set up to compete in both the long jump and triple jump in Paris.
"It was honestly one of the scariest moments of my career," Davis-Woodhall told a small group of resporters. "I did not let that get to my head. I had to stay focused and present.
"I allowed myself to embrace it," she added. "I had to work my way up from there. That was a lot of emotions."
Two-time and reigning shot put world champion Chase Jackson also emerged a winner, her season's best 20.10m (65 feet, 11 inches) bettering reigning Olympic silver medallist Raven Saunders, who was second at 19.90m.
Jackson had been fifth at Trials in 2021, meaning she'll make her Olympic debut at Paris 2024.
The women's long jump was one of eight finals at Hayward Field on day nine in Eugene, Oregon, with Noah Lyles continuing his sprint dominance with a win in the 200m, as Gabby Thomas triumphed in the women's race. Sha'Carri Richardson wasn't as lucky, missing out on making the team in a second event with a fourth-place finish.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone advanced into the final of the women's 400m hurdles, doing so in world-leading time (52.48).
Here's a full wrap of the below.
- Jamaican trials: Shericka Jackson wins 100m, Kishane Thompson continues breakout
- Grant Holloway leads historic top 3 in men's 110m hurdles
As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.
Busy Saturday: Weini Kelati emerges in dramatic 10,000m final
Drama played out in the thows as well, with Jackson moving ahead of Saunders on her fourth attempt in shot put. Home hope Jaida Ross of the University of Oregon added extra intrigue, the 22-year-old coming up in third (19.60m).
"I think I'm going to cherish my world titles forever, but having that 'OLY' next to my name... that makes me feel a little better, I can't lie," Jackson told reporters.
Jackson had butterfly make-up adorning both outer corners of her eyes, a tradition she said started at the Trials in 2021. She also said she and Noah Lyles had agreed to both show off their love for anime. "Naruto is my favourite," she said. "That's how Noah and I got to be cool... we always say we're 'anime besties.'"
Andrew Evans won the men's throw event for the day, the discus, launching a 66.61m (218 feet, 6 inches).
While the women's shot put drama was unfolding, a tight 10,000m final was playing out on the track, too. The top three - Weini Kelati, Parker Valby and Karissa Schweizer - breaking away from the pack with about a mile to go. It would remain tight from there, with Kelati out-sprinting Valby and Schweizer, who were separated by just .004 at the finish line. Kelati won in 31:41.07.
100m hurdles semis leader Alaysha Johnson: 'It's me versus the hurdles. That's it'
Alaysha Johnson improved on her season’s best again in the semi-finals, bettering Friday’s (28 June) round one time, by .01. Her 12.36 leads the field into Sunday’s (30 June) final.
Two others went 12.36 on the day (though Johnson was fastest in the thousandths): Tonea Marshall improving on her personal best time from the heats by .05 seconds and Masai Russell going 12.36, as well.
Russell had clocked the fastest time, 12.35, by an American this season on Friday.
Johnson told NBC she's ready for Sunday's showdown: "I'm ready to get it going. I'm ready for tomorrow. I won’t stop there. I think I've shown everybody I'm somebody to not mess with."
She told a group of reporters her experience this week has been very "uplifting."
"I feel like every race that I've ran this weekend has looked completely different, but [I've] came out with the same results," the 28-year-old Johnson said. "I'm confident in my training and my coaches. And I'm confident that […] I didn't get this far just to get this far."
"It's me versus the hurdles. That's it."
Also advancing are Grace Stark (12.45 PB), Christina Clemons (12.52 PB), Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medallist Keni Harrison (12.52), Rio 2016 Olympic silver medalist Nia Ali (12.55), Alia Armstrong (12.67) and Talie Bonds (12.77).
Lolo Jones was 25th among the 26 semi-finallists, clocking a 14.50.