U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials Day 1: Reigning Olympic champ Ryan Crouser sets shot put world record; Allyson Felix wins 400m heat

Call it a statement throw.

Reigning Olympic shot put champion Ryan Crouser opened the first full day of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - track and field by breaking a world record that had stood since 1990, his 23.37m (76 feet 8 1/4 inches) throw securing him a spot at Tokyo 2020.

Crouser had thrown a meet record 22.92m (75 feet 2 1/2 inches) in qualifying, but outdid himself as well as 2019 world champ Joe Kovacs, who finished in second with a 22.11m (72 feet 6 1/2 inches).

Kovacs won the silver medal behind Crouser at Rio 2016.

The previous world record was set in 1990 by another American, Randy Barnes (23.12m [75 ft 10 in]). Crouser and Kovacs will be joined by Payton Otterdahl, who placed third.

"It was a special moment for me," Crouser said on NBC. "I was here [in Eugene, Ore.] in fifth grade in the Junior Olympics. It felt like a homecoming. It felt like a weight was lifted... it felt incredible."

In the only other final of Friday's programme, a thrilling men's 10,000m came down to the last lap, with Woody Kincaid, Grant Fisher and Joe Klecker going 1-2-3 to earn Olympic berths. Two-time Olympic medallist Galen Rupp finished sixth.

Earlier on the track, Allyson Felix's quest for a fifth Olympics began in fine form, the six-time Olympic champ winning her 400m heat with a time of 50.99, advancing to the semi-finals.

Sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson advanced to the semi-finals of the women's 100m, as well, winning her heat.

READ MORE: Full Day 1 preview here | Joe Kovacs: Coached by wife Ashley

Allyson Felix: 'I feel good. I want to run smart'

With three-year-old daughter Camryn watching on from the stands, Felix, who won silver in the 400m at the 2016 Games, looked composed and confident in her round-one heat. She was among the leaders of the pack coming into the final stretch, then strode to victory - guaranteeing her a spot in the semi-finals.

"This is just really special. I want to take this all in. I'm having fun," Felix told NBC. "It means so much; it's been a hard road. I'm just happy to be here."

"I feel good. I want to run smart and keep progressing."

Felix, Olympic champ in the 200m at London 2012, was initially only meant to run in the 200m before adding the 400 to her Trials.

The 400m semis will take place on Saturday (19 June), while the finals will be run on Sunday.

Men's 10,000m final - Kincaid, Fisher, Klecker qualify

It was a thrilling men's 10,000m, the final race on a busy day of mostly preliminary events in Eugene.

The 28-year-old Kincaid, a Colorado native, is known for his final-lap kick, and used it perfectly, holding off training mate Fisher to win the race with a time of 27:53.62.

Fisher, just 24 years old, was running the 10,000m for only the second time in his competitive career. He finished at 27:54.29, just ahead of Klecker's 27:54.90.

"Woody [has] pushed me in practice every day... I couldn't be happier," a smiling Fisher said. "They say 'act like you've been there' ... but I'm so excited."

Klecker, 24, is the son of Janis Klecker (Horns), a two-time U.S. champion in the marathon who ran for Team USA at Barcelona 1992.

"My mom made the Olympics 30 years ago, so it's really exciting to have her in the stands today," Klecker said. "She told me the night before she had a Snickers bar and the next day she made the Olympics. I followed that to a T."

Klecker also revealed he's never been out of the country before. Next stop: Tokyo.

Day 1 - Richardson shines, Norman advances

Can Sha'Carri Richardson become the first American woman to win the 100m at the Olympics since Gail Devers at Atlanta 1996? The 21 year old from Dallas won her prelim on Friday, clocking in at 10.84, the fastest among the 16 semi-finalists. She's got nails to match Devers - and speed.

"It's Sha-carey," a smiling Richardson told NBC, clarifying how to pronounce her name.

Jenny Simpson, who won the bronze in 2016 in the 1500m, had the fastest prelim time at 4:11.34 to advance.

Vashti Cunningham needed just one jump to clear 1.87m (6 feet 1 inch) to move on in the high jump.

Michael Norman, the world record holder in the indoor 400m, was the fourth-fastest in the first round of 400m, coming in at 45.18, Trevor Stewart clocked in the fastest time - 44.75.

Donavan Brazier, the 2019 world champion in the 800m, was the fastest in the prelim for the men in that race, clocking a 1:45.00.

And Abbey Cooper (D'Agostino) was far and away the fastest in the women's 5000m prelim, coming in under Olympic qualifying time at 15:07.80. Cooper is famous for her Rio 2016 race in which she and New Zealand runner Nikki Hamblin crashed, then helped each other to the finish - Cooper having torn her ACL.