Grant Fisher won the first event final at the U.S. Olympic track & field trials in Eugene, Ore., on Friday, taking the men’s 10,000 meters to book a trip to Paris in July.
The American-record holder in the 10,000, the 27-year-old Fisher crossed the finish line in 27 minutes, 49.47 seconds on Friday to earn a second consecutive trip to the Olympics. He finished fifth in the 10,000 in Tokyo in 2021.
Fisher, whose American record is more than a minute better than his time Friday, was followed by Woody Kinkaid and Nico Young in the final.
All three will go to Paris.
Other big names also competed on the opening day of the trials, including superstar sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson.
The 24-year-old Texas native, who won the 100 meters at the trials in 2021 but was disqualified from competing at the Olympics after testing positive cannabis, posted the fastest time in the event in the first round of qualifying Friday with a 10.88 run — despite running with one shoelace untied.
The time was also only .02 seconds off her finals-winning pace at the trials three years ago, and that despite a bit of a wobbly start out of the block.
“I definitely didn’t have the start I’ve been training to have in this moment,” she told NBC after the race. “But I’m still not panicking. I’m staying patient and knowing no matter what’s going on, to continue to run my race.
“I just need to put it all together.”
She advances to Saturday’s semifinals. The women’s 100 final will be the final event of the day Saturday.
Reigning women’s 800 Olympic champion Athing Mu did not dominate like Richardson but still advanced to the semifinals with a 15th-place showing in Round 1. Mu also currently holds the American record in the event.
Michaela Rose, 2023 NCAA champion in the 800 while at LSU, posted the top qualifying time at 1:59.57.
Shot putter Ryan Crouser, one of the most decorated competitors in action Friday, did not disappoint.
The reigning world-record and Olympic-record holder and two-time defending Olympic champion posted the third-place throw in the first round of qualifying, sending the shot 21.44 meters in his first and only throw for the night.
The 31-year-old is dealing with a sore elbow and a pectoral muscle tear, so the less throwing he had to do before Saturday’s final the better.
“It’s been a tough road, for sure,” Crouser told NBC, “but I’m proud of how I’ve overcome what has been a really difficult spring.”
–Field Level Media
