CJ Allen & Nia Akins join Katie Moon on world champs squad, while Harris & Moll must wait...

EUGENE--On the final day of the Toyota USATF Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Washington State alum CJ Allen (Paul Merca photo), Nia Akins of the Brooks Beasts assured themselves spots on the plane to Budapest along with reigning world and Olympic champion Katie Moon, while Isaiah Harris of the Brooks Beasts, and Capital HS/Olympia grad Hana Moll will have to wait until at least August 2nd to confirm their spot on Team USATF.

Competing under beautiful conditions at Historic Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon, Allen ran to a solid second place finish in the men's 400 hurdles to make his first world championship team, crossing the line in 48.18, as Rai Benjamin took the win in a meet record 46.62.

"There was some expectation for me to perform, being the current Diamond League points leader," said Allen in the mixed zone. 

"I wanted to go out and execute. I went out and finished strong. I've been running consistent 47 (seconds) all year, so running three rounds here is perfect preparation for the world championships."

Allen's preparation for the world championships will include a return to the Diamond League circuit, where he'll run in Monaco on July 21st.

Nia Akins of the Seattle based Brooks Beasts, who already has the world championship standard, won the women's 800, running 1:59.50, and holding off a late challenge from Oregon alum Raevyn Rogers, who finished second in 1:59.83.

Reigning world and Olympic champion Katie Moon, the former Washington State volunteer assistant coach, who had absolutely no incentive to compete in Eugene as the reigning world champion, took care of business in winning the women's pole vault with a 2023 world leading mark of 16-0.75 (4.90m), despite a shaky attempt at 15-1.5 (4.61m), where she needed a second attempt to clear the height, before clearing the next three bars on her first attempt, including the winning height.

Capital HS/Olympia grad Hana Moll, the incoming University of Washington freshman, finished third with a personal best and new American high school record of 15-1.5 (4.61m).

Moll, who does not hold the world championships qualifying standard of 15-5.5 (4.71m), has until the end of the month to attain the standard. That said, Moll is currently in the world rankings quota in a tie for 29th, but must wait until the rankings for August 2nd publish, which will determine which athletes get the invitation from World Athletics.

Isaiah Harris of the Brooks Beasts, who finished second in the men's 800 in 1:46.68, is in the same predicament as Moll in the women's pole vault. Harris' best time in the qualifying period for this year's championships, which began July 31st of last year, is 1:45.11 in New York on June 24th.

Harris currently ranks 24th on the Road to Budapest list in the 800 with 1258 points. The qualifying standard in the men's' 800 is 1:44.70.

In other action:

--In the women's pole vault, current Husky Nastasaja Campbell was sixth at 14-9.5 (4.51m), while UW alum Olivia Gruver was tied for 11th at 14-3.5 (4.36m); 

--Former Husky Jonah Wilson, who competed for Nebraska as a grad transfer, was eleventh in the mens' shot put at 65-4.25 (19.92m);

--In the men's 800, Seattle resident Derek Holdsworth was sixth in 1:47.61;

--The men's 5000 saw Kirkland native Dillon Maggard of the Brooks Beasts finish 18th in 13:44.72, while teammate Allie Buchalski was 11th in 15:28.19.

Results of day 4 of the Toyota USATF Outdoor Track & Field Championships are available here.

USATF U20 DAY 3 RECAP...

In the USATF Under-20 championships, Emerald Ridge rising junior JaiCieonna Gero-Holt (Paul Merca photo) Sunday afternoon added the win and the national title in the high jump to her heptathlon crown Friday and Saturday.

Gero-Holt cleared 5-10.75 (1.80m), while staying clean through the first three bars cleared, including the winning height.

Jacob Andrews of Sehome HS and the Ready-Set-Go Sprinters, finished second in the men's 400, running 45.91.

Erin Tack of Kelso, who finished her freshman year at the University of Arizona, was seventh at 143-6 (43.75m), while Braelyn Baker of the Bear Creek School, was eighth in the women's 400 hurdles in 60.40.

Day 3 results of the USATF Under-20 championships are available here.

NOTE: USA Track & Field contributed to this report.

paulmerca.blogspot.com may receive a commission for any purchases made from links clicked. Please support this site and our sponsors by clicking on the links.