Some of Team USATF's top athletes took to the streets of Atlanta, more specifically Centennial Olympic Park, Saturday for the inaugural adidas Atlanta City Games, and world champions Grant Holloway and Noah Lyles romped to world-leading performances. Holloway, who won the men's 110m hurdles at Eugene last summer, ran a near-perfect flight of hurdles in the final to come away with a 13.01 win over Robert Dunning, who lowered his lifetime best to 13.09, with Jamal Britt third in 13.14. Lyles, who lowered the American record in the men's 200m to 19.31 to take gold at the World Championships, came from behind to storm away with victory in the 150m, clocking the third-fastest time ever at 14.56 to beat Oregon22 bronze medalist Erriyon Knighton. Bryce Hoppel and Sam Prakel were impressive winners in the 600m and mile road races, while Austin Miller won the pole vault at 5.71m/18-8.75. Continuing her undefeated 2023, Aleia Hobbs outleaned training partner Mikiah Brisco to take the women's 100m in 10.99 after a 10.93 in the prelims. Tia Jones outsprinted American record holder Keni Harrison to win the 100m hurdles by .03 in 12.50, and Tamari Davis won the 150m in 16.44, with Olympic 200m bronze medalist Gabby Thomas third in 16.50. Road titles went to Ajee' Wilson in the 600m and Taryn Rawlings in the mile, and Emily Grove won the pole vault with a 4.56m/14-11.5 clearance.
Moving to No. 7 on the all-time U.S. performer list in the women's 5,000m, Josette Andrews ran a world-leading 14:43.36 to win by more than four seconds at the On Track Fest at Mt. San Antonio College. Behind Andrews, North Carolina State's Katelyn Tuohy set an outdoor collegiate record with her 15:03.12 effort. Krissy Gear took over the U.S. lead in the 3,0000m steeplechase with a 9:23.55 clocking, and Fiona O'Keeffe moved to 10th on the all-time U.S. performer list in the 10,000m with a 30:52.77 win. Sage Hurta-Klecker took top honors in the 1,500 at 4:06.34. BYU's Kenneth Rooks dramatically lowered the American collegiate record in the men's 3,000m steeplechase with a world-leading 8:17.62 that made him the second-fastest collegian ever behind only legendary Henry Rono of Washington State and Kenya. Cooper Teare had a 13:12.73 win in the 5,000m to take the outdoor U.S. lead, and American indoor 1,500m and mile record holder Yared Nuguse dropped down in distance to win the 800m in 1:46.30. Missouri high schooler Connor Burns clipped .61 off the existing national prep record in the 5,000m with a 13:37.30.
In other highlights around the track and field scene, Tara Davis-Woodhall spanned a world-leading 7.07m/23-2.5 to win the women's long jump at the Arkansas Invitational, and American record holder Rudy Winkler grabbed the U.S. lead in the men's hammer with a 78.01m/255-11 at the Kehoe Twilight in Maryland. Pittsburg State's Cordell Tinch had an awe-inspiring set of performances at the MIAA Championships in Jefferson City, Missouri, winning the 110m hurdles with a wind-aided 12.97 (+3.0 wind) and the long jump with a windy 8.24m/27-0.5 leap. He also won the high jump, clearing 2.18m/7-1.75. Tinch's 12.97w is the second fastest all-conditions time ever by a collegian. At the Prague Marathon in Czechia, Biya Simbassa was seventh in the men's race in 2:10:34 and Elkanah Kibet placed ninth in 2:10:43. Photo Credit: Kevin Morris