Vashti Cunningham has won the last 12 USA high jump titles (in and out) and will look to make her third Olympic Team. (KEVIN MORRIS)FEARLESS FORECASTING by Jack Pfeifer
Team USA for August’s Olympic Games in Paris will be chosen at the USATF Championships (Eugene, June 21–30).
With just 13 days from the end of the NCAA to the start of the selection meet, collegians will have an extra week for recovery compared to the ’21 OT.
From the tenuous vantage point of 3+ weeks out, here’s our Top 10 charting for each women’s event. The listing of an athlete in a discipline doesn’t guarantee she’ll contest that event (or events).
Note that unlike the World Championships, there are no Wild Cards for the Olympics. Assuming that either the relevant standard is met or the athlete has a high enough position in WA’s world rankings, a nation can enter up to 3 athletes in an event. The U.S. should come close to earning a full quota.
Athletes with a chance to make a third team (individual events only): Jenna Prandini 200, Ajee’ Wilson 800, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone & Dalilah Muhammad 400H, Vashti Cunningham HJ, Sandi Morris PV, Keturah Orji TJ, Raven Saunders SP, DeAnna Price HT, Maggie Malone-Hardin JT.
Here’s our Top 10s. The number in the right-hand column represents the athlete’s placing in last year’s T&FN U.S. Rankings.
100 METERS
1.
*Sha’Carri Richardson
(Nike)
1
2.
*Aleia Hobbs
(adidas)
5
3
*Celera Barnes
(adidas)
nr
4.
*Tamara Clark
(adidas)
6
5.
*Melissa Jefferson
(Nike)
7
6
Morolake Akinosun
(adidas)
nr
7
*Tamari Davis
(adidas)
3
8
Mikiah Brisco
(adidas)
nr
9.
*TeeTee Terry
(Nike)
4
10
English Gardner
(Nike)
nr
(also *— Kennedy Blackmon, Mia Brahe-Pedersen, Brittany Brown, Thelma Davies, Talitha Diggs, Candace Hill, Kaila Jackson, Jadyn Mays, Kiara Parker, Jacious Sears, Abby Steiner)
200 METERS
1
*McKenzie Long
(Mississippi)
9
2.
*Sha’Carri Richardson
(Nike)
2
3
*Abby Steiner
(Puma)
3
4.
*Gabby Thomas
(New Balance)
1
5.
*JaMeesia Ford
(South Carolina)
nr
6
*Brittany Brown
(adidas)
nr
7
*Anavia Battle
(adidas)
nr
8.
*Jenna Prandini
(Puma)
6
9.
*Tamara Clark
(adidas)
7
10
*Kaila Jackson
(Georgia)
nr
(also *—Thelma Davies, Dajaz Defrand, Rosey Effiong, Shawnti Jackson, Jadyn Mays, Jacious Sears, Kayla White)
400 METERS
1.
*Alexis Holmes
(Nike)
10
2
*Britton Wilson
(adidas)
2
3
*Kaylyn Brown
(Arkansas)
nr
4
*Aaliyah Butler
(Georgia)
nr
5
*Lynna-Irby Jackson
(adidas)
6
6.
*Talitha Diggs
(adidas)
4
7
*Gabby Thomas
(New Balance)
5
8.
Bella Whittaker
(Penn)
nr
9.
Kendall Ellis
(New Balance)
nr
10.
Quanera Hayes
(Nike)
nr
(also *— Jermaisha Arnold, Rosey Effiong, JaMeesia Ford, Ziyah Holman, Shamier Little, Christine Mallard, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone)
800 METERS
1.
*Athing Mu
(Nike)
1
2.
*Nia Akins
(Brooks Beasts)
2
3
*Sage Hurta-Klecker
(On AC)
4
4.
*Michaela Rose
(LSU)
6
5
*Sanu Jallow
(Arkansas)
nr
6
Kate Grace
(Nike)
nr
7.
Allie Wilson
(Nike)
10
8
Kaela Edwards
(adidas)
5
9
*Raevyn Rogers
(Nike Union AC)
3
10.
Sammy Watson
(adidas)
nr
(also *— Addy Wiley)
1500 METERS
1.
*Elle St. Pierre
(New Balance)
nr
2.
*Nikki Hiltz
(lululemon)
1
3.
*Emily MacKay
(New Balance/Boston)
8
4
*Sinclaire Johnson
(Nike Union AC)
3
5
*Heather MacLean
(New Balance/Boston)
9
6
*Dani Jones
(New Balance)
nr
7.
*Cory McGee
(New Balance)
2
8.
*Addy Wiley
(adidas)
5
9.
Anna Camp-Bennett
(adidas)
nr
10.
Christina Aragon
(Nike Bowerman TC)
nr
(also *— Elise Cranny)
STEEPLE
1.
*Courtney Wayment
(On AC)
1
2.
*Gabbi Jennings
(adidas)
10
3
*Val Constien
(Nike)
nr
4
*Kaylee Mitchell
(Nike/Bowerman TC)
6
5
*Krissy Gear
(HOKA)
2
6
*Madie Boreman
(Oiselle)
7
7
Lexy Halladay-Lowry
(unattached)
9
8
Gracie Hyde
(Adams State)
nr
9.
*Marisa Howard
(Tracksmith)
5
10
Angelina Ellis
(Under Armour)
nr
(also *— Olivia Markezich)
5000 METERS
1.
Parker Valby
(Florida)
nr
2
Elise Cranny
(Nike)
1
3
Karissa Schweizer
(Nike Bowerman TC)
nr
4
Ella Donaghu
(Nike/Union AC)
nr
5
Allie Buchalski
(Brooks Beasts)
nr
6.
*Elly Henes
(adidas)
5
7
Whittni Morgan
(adidas)
6
8
Abby Nichols
(Brooks Beasts)
nr
9.
*Josette Andrews
(On AC)
4
10
Emily Infeld
(Nike)
10
(also *— Weini Kelati, Elle St. Pierre, Courtney Wayment)
10,000 METERS
1.
*Weini Kelati
(Under Armour/Dark Sky)
5
2.
Parker Valby
(Florida)
nr
3
Fiona O’Keeffe
(Puma)
6
4.
Elise Cranny
(Nike)
2
5.
Karissa Schweizer
(Nike Bowerman TC)
7
6.
Elly Henes
(adidas)
4
7.
Amanda Vestri
(Zap)
10
8.
Keira D’Amato
(adidas)
nr
9
Jess McClain
(Brooks)
nr
10
Katrina Coogan
(New Balance/Boston)
nr
100 HURDLES
1.
*Keni Harrison
(adidas)
1
2
*Grace Stark
(Florida)
8
3
*Christina Clemons
(TBBTC)
nr
4
*Nia Ali
(Nike)
2
5
*Amber Hughes
(unattached)
9
6.
*Tonea Marshall
(Nike)
6
7
*Alaysha Johnson
(unattached)
3
8
*Jasmine Jones
(USC)
nr
9
*Masai Russell
(Nike)
5
10
*Talie Bonds
(VS Athletics)
10
(also *— Alia Armstrong, Michelle Atherly, Shani’a Bellamy, Emelia Chatfield, Rayniah Jones, Tia Jones, Aasia Laurencin, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Leah Phillips, Alexandria Webster)
400 HURDLES
1.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
(New Balance)
nr
2
*Rachel Glenn
(Arkansas)
nr
3
*Anna Cockrell
(Nike)
2
4
*Jasmine Jones
(USC)
nr
5.
*Dalilah Muhammad
(Nike)
3
6.
*Cassandra Tate
(unattached)
8
7.
*Akala Garrett
(Texas)
nr
8
Deshae Wise
(Tracksmith)
nr
9
*Shamier Little
(adidas)
1
10
Sydni Townsend
(Houston)
nr
20K WALK (by Michael J. Roth)
1.
Miranda Melville
(New York AC)
3
2.
Robyn Stevens
(JOMA)
5
3.
Stephanie Casey
(Tracksmith)
2
4.
Janelle Branch
(Tracksmith)
8
5.
Celina Lepe Corvera
(Nuun Elite)
6
6.
Lydia McGranahan
(unattached)
9
7.
Katie Burnett
(Harrier TC)
4
8.
Talia Green
(Oakland Clubs)
nr
9.
Angelina Colon
(Mansfield)
nr
10.
Katie MIale
(New England Walkers)
7
HIGH JUMP
1.
*Vashti Cunningham
(Nike)
1
2
*Rachel Glenn
(Arkansas)
nr
3.
Charity Hufnagel
(Kentucky)
4
4.
Jamari Drake
(Mizuno)
nr
5
Sanaa Barnes
(unattached)
nr
6.
Cierra Allphin
(BYU)
10
7
Liz Evans
(unattached)
8
8
Katie Isenbarger
(Western Kentucky)
nr
9.
Karsyn Leeling
(Nebraska HS)
nr
10
Cheyla Scott
(Oregon)
nr
POLE VAULT
1.
*Katie Moon
(Nike)
1
2.
*Bridget Guy Williams
(Team ESSX)
3
3.
*Sandi Morris
(Puma)
2
4.
Gabriela Leon
(Puma)
7
5.
Hana Moll
(Washington)
4
6.
Brynn King
(Roberts Wesleyan)
nr
7.
Emily Grove
(Team ESSX)
5
8
Kristen Leland
(unattached)
nr
9.
Rachel Baxter
(Team ESSX)
nr
10.
Riley Felts
(Charlotte)
nr
LONG JUMP
1.
*Tara Davis-Woodhall
(lululemon)
1
2.
*Jasmine Moore
(Puma)
3
3.
*Quanesha Burks
(unattached)
2
4
Monae’ Nichols
(Puma)
7
5.
Tiffany Flynn
(Tracksmith)
5
6
Claire Bryant
(Florida)
8
7
Sydnie Willits
(Iowa State)
nr
8
Jasmine Todd
(Tracksmith)
6
9.
Madisen Richards
(unattached)
nr
10
Nicole Warwick
(Azusa)
nr
(also* — Sophia Beckmon)
TRIPLE JUMP
1.
*Tori Franklin
(Nike)
1
2
*Jasmine Moore
(Puma)
3
3
*Keturah Orji
(Mizuno)
2
4.
Imani Oliver
(Tracksmith)
4
5.
Mylana Hearn
(Bethany TC)
5
6.
Lexi Ellis
(CTG Development)
7
7.
Michelle Fokam
(unattached)
nr
8
Titiana Marsh
(unattached)
6
9.
Danylle Kurywchak
(unattached)
nr
10.
Arianna Fisher
(unattached)
10
SHOT
1.
*Chase Jackson
(Nike)
1
2
*Jaida Ross
(Oregon)
6
3.
*Maggie Ewen
(Nike)
2
4.
*Adelaide Aquilla
(unattached)
3
5.
*Mya Lesnar
(Colorado State)
nr
6.
*Jessica Woodard
(Ironwood)
4
7.
Jessica Ramsey
(adidas)
nr
8
Raven Saunders
(unattached)
nr
9.
Jalani Davis
(Mississippi)
5
10.
Jayden Ulrich
(Louisville)
nr
DISCUS
1.
*Valarie Allman
(Asics/New York AC)
1
2.
*Veronica Fraley
(Vanderbilt)
4
3
Jayden Ullrich
(Louisville)
nr
4
Gabi Jacobs
(unattached)
nr
5
*Lagi Tausaga
(Nike)
2
6.
Elena Bruckner
(unattached)
3
7.
Shelby Frank
(Minnesota)
6
8.
Michaela Hawkins
(Colorado State)
nr
9.
Jordyn Bryant
(Fresno State)
nr
10.
Micaela Hazlewood
(Velaasa)
5
HAMMER
1.
*DeAnna Price
(Nike/New York AC)
2
2
*Brooke Andersen
(Nike/New York AC)
1
3.
*Janee’ Kassanavoid
(Nike)
3
4
Annette Echikunwoke
(unattached)
4
5
Rachel Tanczos
(Velaasa)
8
6.
Maggie Ewen
(Nike)
6
7.
*Jillian Shippee
(unattached)
5
8.
Erin Reese
(Velaasa)
7
9.
Janeah Stewart
(New York AC)
9
10.
Madi Malone
(Velaasa)
nr
JAVELIN
1.
*Maggie Malone-Hardin
(New York AC)
1
2
Madison Wiltrout
(unattached)
5
3
Katelyn Fairchild
(Texas A&M)
3
4.
Ariana Ince
(Velaasa)
4
5.
Maddie Harris
(Nebraska)
2
6
Sarah Blake
(unattached)
nr
7
Shea Greene
(Princeton)
nr
8.
Maria Bienvenu
(TCU)
10
9.
Trinity Spooner
(LSU)
nr
10
Skylar Ciccolini
(Missouri)
7
HEPTATHLON
1.
Michelle Atherley
(unattached)
nr
2
Taliyah Brooks
(Asics)
3
3.
*Anna Hall
(adidas)
1
4
Annie Kunz
(FP Movement)
4
5.
Chari Hawkins
(On)
2
6
Jadin O’Brien
(Notre Dame)
10
7.
Timara Chapman
(Texas A&M)
nr
8
Allie Jones
(unattached)
7
9.
Hope Bender
(VS Athletics)
nr
10
Erica Bougard
(Nike)
nr
