RANDALLS ISLAND, NEW YORK, June 09 — As she usually does, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone had high expectations at the USATF NYC Grand Prix, where she would be making her season debut in the flat 400. Sanya Richards-Ross’ venerable American Record (48.70) from 2006 was the target at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island. Though McLaughlin-Levrone came up just short, it was an impressive performance.
She tore through the first half of the race and by the finish she had built a lead of more than 2 seconds on the field. The clock stopped in 48.75, the third-fastest time ever by an American — and just 0.01 off McLaughlin-Levrone’s PR from last year’s USATF Outdoor championships.
“First 400 of the year felt good. It wasn’t exactly what we were hoping for, but sometimes you gotta feel the race, and I’ll take that,” said McLaughlin-Levrone, who says she still intends to run the 400 hurdles at the Olympic Trials in a bid to defend her title in Paris. “It was just a good feel. I’m sure [coach] Bobby [Kersee] will have some notes for me going home.”
Talitha Diggs (50.91) edged Jamaica’s Stacy Ann Williams (50.94) for the (distant) runner-up spot.
Gabby Thomas won the 200 in 22.42 into a formidable -3.1 wind. She didn’t take the lead until about 150 meters, but opened up a sizeable margin at the end, with Tamara Clark (22.79) well back in 2nd. Thomas was doubling back from the 100 after finishing 4th in that race — 11.34, behind Favour Ofili’s 11.18 win against a -2.1 breeze.
“The whole day was good. I feel confident, I feel strong,” said Thomas, silver medalist at the ’23 Worlds. “The headwind was a monster for us today. I am glad that I did the 100 before that 200 because it was shocking. I think that helped me in the 200.”
The surprise winner of the javelin was Kara Winger, who had announced only two days earlier that she was coming out of retirement in a last-minute quest to make her fifth Olympic team. Winger, now 38, had called it a career after a memorable ’22 campaign in which she took World Championships silver and set the current American Record of 223-5 (68.11).
Showing no signs of rust, she opened with 205-6 (62.65), a mark bettered by only one other American this year — Maggie Malone-Hardin’s 213-3 (65.00). Winger then improved to 207-5 (63.22) to seal the win. Malone-Hardin was 2nd, at 196-7 (59.93).
“I picked up a javelin [for the first time] in December,” Winger said of her comeback. “My first session was on grass, it was like 29 degrees and sleeting outside in Colorado. And it was fun. I had good posture and I could control my body in ways that I remembered. It got more difficult as I got sore, but it’s just been fun, and I’ve been very overwhelmed by all the love on the last two days.”
She admits that she’s risking the storybook ending she experienced two years ago, which included a win at the Diamond League Final. “I’m jeopardizing leaving it perfectly, but I want to try. And the only thing I never did was make an Olympic final, so if I’m gonna make the team I want to know that I can make the final.”
Sarah Mitton took the shot put with a heave of 66-1½ (20.15), though all five of her measured throws would have been enough for the win. “I feel like it went really well out there,” said the Canadian, who won the world indoor title in March. “I’m happy with the consistency. A miss is still pretty far for me. I’m just looking to find that finish with the shot and I’ll get that really nice release and I think that’s where the longer throws will come.”
Finishing 2nd was Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Raven Saunders, who is coming back from an 18-month whereabouts suspension that ended in February. Saunders’ best mark was 62-8½ (19.11), not far off the season’s best of 62-10¾ (19.17) the Ole Miss alum hit a week earlier in Oklahoma.
Jumping on the far side of the stadium, far away from the fans, Tara Davis-Woodhall still managed to channel their energy, and won the long jump at 23-5¼ (7.14). “This consistency helps prepare for bigger jumps,” said the world indoor champ. “I am excited about it. For the Trials, I need to work on my take-off and allow myself to be patient in the air. My speed is coming very quickly.”
Facing a -1.9 wind, Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas won the 100 hurdles in 12.56, leaning hard at the line and then falling to the track. Alaysha Johnson (12.58) was close behind, followed by Tobi Amusan (12.66).
Sage Hurta-Klecker held off Olivia Baker to win a tactical 800, 2:00.33 to 2:00.73, and Vashti Cunningham took the high jump at 6-4 ¾ (1.95).
NYC WOMEN’S RESULTS
100(-2.1): 1. Favour Ofili (Ngr) 11.18; 2. Morolake Akinosun (US) 11.20; 3. Aleia Hobbs (US) 11.21; 4. Gabby Thomas (US) 11.34; 5. Mikiah Brisco (US) 11.34;
6. Celera Barnes (US) 11.39; 7. Kennedy Blackmon (US) 11.42; 8. Zoe Hobbs (NZ) 11.45; 9. Elaine Thompson-Herah (Jam) 11.48.
200(-3.1): 1. Thomas 22.42; 2. Tamara Clark (US) 22.79; 3. Jenna Prandini (US) 22.96; 4. Lynna Irby-Jackson (US) 23.09;
5. Candace Hill (US) 23.12; 6. Ashanti Moore (Jam) 23.13; 7. Blackmon 23.17; 8. Jodean Williams (Jam) 23.49.
400: 1. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (US) 48.75 (WL) (x, 3 A);
2. Talitha Diggs (US) 50.91; 3. Stacey-Ann Williams (Jam) 50.94; 4. Kendall Ellis (US) 51.08;
5. Aliyah Abrams (Guy) 51.77; 6. Quanera Hayes (US) 52.19; 7. Junelle Bromfield (Jam) 52.32; 8. Kaylin Whitney (US) 52.75.
800: 1. Sage Hurta-Klecker (US) 2:00.33; 2. Olivia Baker (US) 2:00.73; 3. Sammy Watson (US) 2:00.91; 4. Aurora Rynda (Can) 2:02.80;
5. Brenna Detra (US) 2:02.84; 6. Kaela Edwards (US) 2:03.25; 7. Danae Rivers (US) 2:03.43; 8. Kristie Schoffield (US) 2:03.93; 9. Angel Piccirillo (US) 2:04.13.
100H(-1.9): 1. Devynne Charlton (Bah) 12.56; 2. Alaysha Johnson (US) 12.58; 3. Tobi Amusan (Ngr) 12.66;
4. Danielle Williams (Jam) 12.71; 5. Masai Russell (US) 12.73; 6. Kendra Harrison (US) 12.77; 7. Yanique Thompson (Jam) 12.94; 8. Anna Hall (US) 13.57.
Field Events
HJ: 1. Vashti Cunningham (US) 6-4¾ (1.95); 2. Nagisa Takahashi (Jpn) 6-1½ (1.87); 3. Kimberly Williamson (Jam) 6-½ (1.84);
4. Zarriea Willis (US) 6-½; 5. Mercedeez Francis (US) 5-10½ (1.79);… nh—Jelena Rowe (US).
LJ: 1. Tara Davis-Woodhall (US) 23-5¼ (7.14) (f, 22-5¼, 23-5¼, f, f) (f, 6.84, 7.14, f, f);
2. Jasmine Moore (US) 22-7 (6.88) =PR (21-1¼, 21-7½, 17-2, 22-7, f, 22-5) (6.43, 6.59, 5.23, 6.88, f, 6.83);
3. Quanesha Burks (US) 22-6¼ (6.86) (f, 22-3½, 21-10¼, 22-2¼, 22-6¼, f) (f, 6.79, 6.66, 6.76, 6.86, f);
4. Tiffany Yue (HK) 20-9 (6.32) PR; 5. Tissanna Hickling (Jam) 20-4¼ (6.20); 6. Anna Hall (US) 19-11¾ (6.09).
SP: 1. Sarah Mitton (Can) 66-1½ (20.15) (63-3¼, 66-1½, 64-11½, 64-9¾, f, 65-10¼) (19.28, 20.15, 19.80, 19.75, f, 20.07);
2. Raven Saunders (US) 62-8½ (19.11); 3. Jessica Ramsey (US) 61-9½ (18.83); 4. Jessica Woodard (US) 60-4 (18.39); 5. Adelaide Aquilla (US) 60-1¾ (18.33); 6. Portious Warren (Tri) 59-7 (18.16).
DT: 1. Yaimé Pérez (Cub) 224-1 (68.31); 2. Chioma Onyekwere (Ngr) 201-3 (61.35); 3. Jade Lally (GB) 194-7 (59.30);
4. Micaela Hazlewood (US) 192-1 (58.55); 5. Lisa Brix Pedersen (Den) 189-5 (57.75); 6. Ashley Petr (US) 179-7 (54.75); 7. Obiageri Amaechi (Ngr) 177-3 (54.03).
HT: 1. Rachel Tanczos (US) 241-3 (73.55); 2. Jillian Shippee (US) 233-2 (71.08); 3. Annette Echikunwoke (US) 231-5 (70.54); 4. Vanessa Sterckendries (Bel) 221-2 (67.42); 5. Sade Olatoye (Ngr) 220-10 (67.33); 6. Janeah Stewart (US) 214-11 (65.50).
JT: 1. Kara Winger (US) 207-5 (63.22) (205-6, 207-5, 200-2, 194-1, 182-8, 193-2) (62.65, 63.22, 61.01, 59.16, 55.69, 58.89);
2. Maggie Malone-Hardin (US) 196-7 (59.93); 3. Madison Wiltrout (US) 195-9 (59.67); 4. Ariana Ince (US) 192-6 (58.67);
5. Maddie Harris (US) 184-11 (56.36); 6. Lianna Davidson (Aus) 181-7 (55.35); 7. Avione Allgood-Whetstone (US) 177-8 (54.17); 8. Rebekah Wales (US) 158-3 (48.25).