WESTWOOD, CALIFORNIA, May 17–18 — Mild temperatures and pesky headwinds plagued the sprinters at the Los Angeles Grand Prix. Many would leave satisfied with their outcome, while at the same time being disappointed with where the clock stopped — save the 200, where Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone won going away in a PR 22.07, looking every bit like she was where she needed to be.
Starting in lane 6, McLaughlin-Levrone was joined, among her prime competitors, on the right by Tokyo bronze medalist Gabby Thomas in 5 and Ireland’s Texas alum Rhasidat Adeleke on her left in 7, Abby Steiner and Kendall Ellis ran in lanes 8 and 9, Brittany Brown and Jenna Prandini in 3 and 4.
At the gun, McLaughlin-Levrone may have had the slowest reaction time (0.548), but she quickly remedied that by making up the stagger on Adeleke after 50 and entered the straight with a 2-meter gap over Prandini, Adeleke, Steiner and Brown. She stretched her lead to 3 meters by the time she reached the line in 22.07 into a -0.3 wind, 0.25 ahead of Steiner in 22.32 with Brown 3rd in 22.35.
When asked if a decision had been made about doing both the flat 400 and the hurdles at the Olympic Trials, the 400H WR holder and Tokyo Olympics gold medalist affirmed that she would not be doing the double.
“The 400 hurdles is my bread and butter,” McLaughlin-Levrone said. “It’s what I’m most comfortable with. So we’re going to get back to that.”
The double, she clarified, is “definitely a possibility in the future, but just wanting to come back, after last season, just stick to one event and try to do it the best I can, be healthy, which we are, and I’m very happy about.”
When asked about her 22.07 — an 0.32 improvement on her prior best from 2018 — she said, “Honestly, I would have loved to have got 21.99, but I’m really happy with that.”
Other sprinters didn’t fare as well with the wind. The 100 was won in a slowish 11.27, albeit into a stiff –2.4 breeze, by American Melissa Jefferson, followed by compatriot Morolake Akinosun (11.28) and Jamaican Lanae-Tava Thomas. In fact, the B section was won by veteran English Gardner in a wind-legal 11.22 (0.0).
Tonea Marshall won the 100 hurdles in 12.55 over Alaysha Johnson (12.57), France’s Cyrena Samba-Mayela (12.63) and Puerto Rico’s Tokyo Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (12.66).
The multi lap races fared much better than the sprints, headed by a world leading 800 from Uganda’s Halimah Nakaayi.
The 2019 world champion had her hands full, facing Ethiopia’s indoor world champ Tsige Duguma and Americans Sage Hurta-Klecker, Raevyn Rogers and 2022 indoor champion Ajee’ Wilson.
A brisk 55.35 by pacer Kaylin Whitney was followed closely by Duguma, Nakaayi and Saint Vincent’s Shafiqua Maloney.
By 600 Duguma and Nakaayi had separated from the pack and were readying to duel down the home straight. With 50 left Duguma left just enough room for Nakaayi to squeeze by on the inside. The two were neck and neck and when they got to the line a photo finish was needed before Nakaayi was declared the winner over Duguma, 1:57.553–1:57.556.
The 1500 was another thriller with a familiar East African showdown providing the fireworks. Ethiopia was represented by Budapest runner-up Diribe Welteji, 2024 indoor champ Freweyni Hailu, Hirut Meshesha and 16-year-old Saron Berhe, while 2019 steeple world champ Beatrice Chepkoech and former Oregon Duck Susan Ejore lined up for Kenya.
After a 61.8 opening salvo, Canada’s Jazz Shukla led the field through 800 before pulling off in 2:05.5. Welteji (2:06.8) now led Ejore, Meshesha and the rest.
With 600 to go Hailu jumped to the lead and at the bell she led Welteji, Meshesha, Ejore, Chepkoech and American Emily Mackay.
Hailu and Welteji separated from the rest down the backstretch and entered the straight still pulling away. Welteji waited patiently before she pounced and passed Hailu 50 out. Welteji won in 3:55.25, just ahead of Hailu’s 3:55.48. Ejore was 3rd in 3:58.63, with Chepkoech 4th in 3:59.73, followed by Mackay in 4:00.08.
The Friday evening throws competitions boasted star power. Tokyo discus champion Valarie Allman’s 222-10 (67.93) longest easily handled world leader Yaimé Pérez (213-1/64.95). The hammer saw the last three world champions grab the top 3 places. Oregon22 gold medalist Brooke Andersen led from round 1 and lofted a second-frame 253-8 (77.32) to dispatch ’19 WC champ DeAnna Price (253-2/77.16) and Budapest winner Camryn Rogers (247-11/75.56).
USATF LA WOMEN’S RESULTS
100: I(-2.4)–1. Melissa Jefferson (US) 11.27; 2. Morolake Akinosun (US) 11.28; 3. Lanae-Tava Thomas (Jam) 11.35; 4. Alana Reid (Jam) 11.36; 5. TeeTee Terry (US) 11.37; 6. Tia Clayton (Jam) 11.47; 7. Natasha Morrison (Jam) 11.51; 8. Javianne Oliver (US) 11.53.
II(0.0)–1. English Gardner (US) 11.22; 2. Destiny Smith-Barnett (Lbr) 11.27; 3. Abby Steiner (US) 11.32; 4. Gabby Thomas (US) 11.42; 5. Briana Williams (Jam) 11.47; 6. Kortnei Johnson (US) 11.50.
200(-0.3): 1. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (US) 22.07 PR; 2. Steiner 22.32; 3. Brittany Brown (US) 22.35; 4. Rhasidat Adeleke (Ire) 22.45; 5. Jenna Prandini (US) 22.61; 6. Thomas 22.68; 7. Kendall Ellis (US) 22.77.
400: 1. Marileidy Paulino (DR) 50.27; 2. Mary Moraa (Ken) 50.56; 3. Alexis Holmes (US) 50.73; 4. Shamier Little (US) 51.27; 5. Stacey-Ann Williams (Jam) 51.38; 6. Sada Williams (Bar) 51.48; 7. Victoria Ohuruogu (GB) 51.67; 8. Quanera Hayes (US) 51.71; 9. Salwa Eid Naser (Bhr) 51.79.
800: 1. Halimah Nakaayi (Uga) 1:57.56 NR (WL); 2. Tsige Duguma (Eth) 1:57.56 (=WL) PR;
3. Sage Hurta-Klecker (US) 1:58.98; 4. Shafiqua Maloney (StV) 1:59.77 NR; 5. Catriona Bisset (Aus) 2:00.22; 6. Allie Wilson (US) 2:00.59; 7. McKenna Keegan (US) 2:01.61; 8. Ajee’ Wilson (US) 2:04.87; 9. Raevyn Rogers (US) 2:06.17.
1500: 1. Diribe Welteji (Eth) 3:55.25; 2. Freweyni Hailu (Eth) 3:55.48 PR; 3. Susan Ejore (Ken) 3:58.63 PR; 4. Beatrice Chepkoech (Ken) 3:59.73 PR; 5. Emily Mackay (US) 4:00.08; 6. Hirut Meshesha (Eth) 4:00.17; 7. Sinclaire Johnson (US) 4:00.67; 8. Katie Snowden (GB) 4:00.89; 9. Dani Jones (US) 4:02.09; 10. Lucia Stafford (Can) 4:02.32;
11. Maia Ramsden (NZ-Harv) 4:02.58 NR (2, 2 C);
12. Cory McGee (US) 4:02.96; 13. Sintayehu Vissa (Ita) 4:04.74; 14. Saron Berhe (Eth) 4:06.78; 15. Simone Plourde (Can) 4:08.88; 16. Helen Schlachtenhaufen (US) 4:13.52.
100H(-1.0): 1. Tonea Marshall (US) 12.55; 2. Alaysha Johnson (US) 12.57; 3. Cyrena Samba-Mayela (Fra) 12.63; 4. Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (PR) 12.66; 5. Talie Bonds (US) 12.85; 6. Masai Russell (US) 12.88; 7. Gabbi Cunningham (US) 13.45.
400H: 1. Anna Cockrell (US) 53.75; 2. Andrenette Knight (Jam) 54.69; 3. Cassandra Tate (US) 55.02; 4. Dalilah Muhammad (US) 55.78; 5. Lauren Hoffman (Phi) 55.84; 6. Jessica Wright (US) 56.19.
Field Events
PV: 1. Sandi Morris (US) 15-5 (4.70); 2. Emily Grove (US) 14-8¼ (4.48); 3. Gabriela Leon (US) 14-8¼; 4. tie, Bridget Williams (US), Kristen Leland (US) & Robeilys Peinado (Ven) 14-2½ (4.33).
TJ: 1. Thea LaFond (Dom) 47-1¾ (14.37); 2. Shanieka Ricketts (Jam) 47-1½ (14.36); 3. Tori Franklin (US) 45-6¼ (13.87); 4. Charisma Taylor (Bah) 45-5¾ (13.86); 5. Kim Williams (Jam) 43-9¾ (13.35); 6. Mylana Hearn (US) 43-5 (13.23); 7. Imani Oliver (US) 43-1 (13.13).
DT (05/17): 1. Valarie Allman (US) 222-10 (67.93); 2. Yaimé Pérez (Cub) 213-1 (64.95); 3. Jorinde van Klinken (Neth) 205-10 (62.74); 4. Lagi Tausaga (US) 199-7 (60.83); 5. Kristin Pudenz (Ger) 193-2 (58.88); 6. Chioma Onyekwere (Ngr) 189-8 (57.81); 7. Elena Bruckner (US) 179-3 (54.65).
HT (05/17): 1. Brooke Andersen (US) 253-8 (77.32); 2. DeAnna Price (US) 253-2 (77.16); 3. Camryn Rogers (Can) 247-11 (75.56); 4. Janee’ Kassanavoid (US) 239-5 (72.99); 5. Silja Kosonen (Fin) 231-4 (70.51); 6. Annette Echikunwoke (US) 230-0 (70.11); 7. Janeah Stewart (US) 218-9 (66.69).
