USATF Outdoor Championships 2023: Five sprinters to watch including Fred Kerley, Sha’Carri Richardson, Erriyon Knighton, Noah Lyles and Aleia Hobbs

Almost one year on from the World Athletics Championships that took place in Eugene, Oregon, the top American sprinters are back in action on the same Hayward Field track as they attempt to qualify for this year’s Worlds in Budapest.

Last year saw the USA men sweep the podiums in both the 100m and 200m, and the women win gold in the 4x100m relay.

Once again, the US team will be expected to be strong when they compete at the Worlds, however in order to get there they need to qualify at the USATF Outdoor Championships.

Here are five American sprint stars to watch out for at the national trials.

Fred Kerley, Men’s 200m

The reigning world 100m champion and Olympic silver medallist, Fred Kerley is entered for the 200m at this year’s USATF Outdoor Championships having secured entry to the World Athletics Championships courtesy of his victory in last year’s final.

A former 400m runner, Kerley is a multiple world medallist, having won bronze in the 400m and gold in the 4x400m relay at Doha 2019 and silver in the 4x400m relay at London 2017, to add to his title in the 100m in Oregon.

Having become the 2018 Diamond League champion in the 400m the 28-year-old holds the same title in the 100m from 2022.

Kerley is not just one of the greatest sprinters in the USA today, he is also among the very best in the world.

Sha’Carri Richardson, Women’s 100m and 200m

It has been a long time since the Jamaican women’s team has been challenged in the world of sprinting but Sha’Carri Richardson’s form this year makes her a genuine threat to the likes of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson-Herah in 2023.

Richardson holds the second, fourth and fifth-fastest 100m times of the 2023 outdoor season and has looked to be back to her excellent best with Paris 2024 just a year away.

One of the most popular sprinters on the international circuit, Richardson is as flamboyant as she is fast. Her time of 22.07 in the 200m set in May 2023 also makes her the fourth fastest woman over the half-lap distance this year.

Noah Lyles, Men’s 100m and 200m

Perhaps the greatest track performance at last year’s World belonged to Noah Lyles. His 19.31 run in the 200m final was the fastest ever by an American athlete (and fourth fastest of all time), eclipsing the former record that had belonged to Michael Johnson since 1996.

Lyles has now won gold at the last two World Athletics Championships after rising to the top of the podium in 2019 in Doha. He also has five Diamond League titles to his name, including in 2019 in the 100m - a race he will once again attempt to qualify in during the US trials.

While World honours have been a feature of Lyles’s career, he has not enjoyed as much success at the Olympics with his bronze from Tokyo 2020 his sole medal at the Games. He will be hoping to change all of that at Paris 2024 where, if things continue to go to plan, he will compete as one of the favourites.

Aleia Hobbs, Women’s 100m

Aleia Hobbs is the second-fastest 100m metre runner on the US trials entry list with a time of 10.81, just 0.05 seconds slower than Richardson’s.

At 27 years old, Hobbs won gold in the 4x400m relay at Eugene 2022 and silver in the same event at Tokyo 2020.

However, despite reaching the podium in both of these major international competitions, you get the impression that she is still missing a breakout season. Could 2023 be the year she medals in an individual event?

Hobbs faces competition from a number of exceptional sprinters at the US trials, including Melissa Jefferson, Twanisha Terry and Tamara Clark. However a strong showing in Oregon could see her on the road to the podium in Budapest next month.

Erriyon Knighton, Men’s 200m

The reigning U18 and U20 200m world record holder, Erriyon Knighton holds all 10 of the fastest junior times ever over the half-lap distance.

Having set the then fourth-fastest 200m time in history (19.41) at age 18, Knighton is now in his final year as a junior at 19 years of age.

A bronze medallist last year in Eugene - the youngest sprint world medallist ever - Knighton will be expected to challenge Lyles for victory not only in the trials but at the Worlds in Budapest.

And having stated that one of his aims is to break Usain Bolt’s senior world record, much is expected of the young American in the lead-up to the next Olympic Games.