No teams, no problem--Toyota USATF champs begin Thursday in New York...
While there are no national teams to make this weekend, the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships must still go on.
For the first time since 2019 when the meet was contested in Des Moines, Iowa at Drake Stadium, the USA championships won't be held at Eugene's Hayward Field, as the venue prepares to host the World Athletics Under-20 Championships starting August 5-9th.
Instead, the meet will be contested at Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island in New York. The meet marks the first time the meet will be contested since 1991 in New York, when it was held at Downing Stadium, where the current footprint of Icahn Stadium sits.
While there isn't a major team to make this year, competitors can score major points towards qualifying for the newly created World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest on September 11-13th, where there are no country quotas, but invitations other than the defending world, Olympic and 2026 Wanda Diamond League champions, will go to athletes based on their current world rankings.
After Brandon Miller of the Brooks Beasts' impressive win in the 800 meters at the Novuna London Athletics Meet last Saturday, it was anticipated that he would compete at nationals in a possible showdown with teen sensation Cooper Lutkenhaus.
However, Brooks Beasts coach Danny Mackey told LetsRun.com that, coming off of London, Miller was dealing with an injury to the peroneal tendon in his right ankle. It is not a serious injury — Mackey hopes it should clear up by next week — but the timing is bad. Had this been a year with a World Championship or Olympic spot on the line, Mackey said, Miller would be lining up at USAs.
Some other notables with Washington ties not entered in the USATF championship meet include both Amanda and Hana Moll from the University of Washington, who competed at the Monaco Diamond League stop almost two weeks ago, along with reigning world champion and former Pullman resident Katie Moon. Moon already has a spot in the World Ultimate Championships, while the Moll twins could conceivably compete once the Wanda Diamond League season resumes on August 21st in Lausanne.
Thirty three athletes with Washington ties will toe the line starting Thursday at Icahn Stadium, with twenty six going Thursday.
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| Washington alum Nathan Green (L) and Seattle resident Sam Prakel are entered in the 1500 Thursday at the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships (Paul Merca photo) |
In the men's 1500, US indoor champ and UW alum Nathan Green leads nine other men with Washington ties in Thursday's first round.
That group includes Gary Martin, Waleed Suliman, and Brannon Kidder of the Brooks Beasts; Washington alums Joe Waskom, Luke Houser, Aidan Ryan, Reuben Reina, and Sam Ellis; and Seattle resident Sam Prakel, who like Green, were both in the London mile, where each set personal bests in the race won by Josh Kerr of the Beasts in a world record 3:42.66.
The women's 1500 has Teagan Schein-Becker of the Beasts, along with Washington alums Eleanor Fulton and Chloe Foerster; and current Dawg Mia Cochran.
Olympic steeplechase silver medalist Kenneth Rooks, who just became a father for the first time, is entered along with Parker Stokes of the Brooks Beasts, and Washington alum Julius Diehr.
Pasco native Marisa Howard, who ran her first race a few weeks ago after returning from maternity leave, is in the women's steeple along with former Seattle Pacific All-American Kaylee Mitchell.
In one of the last races of the evening, Gonzaga alum James Mwaura and Washington alum Acer Iverson are in the men's 10000, while Allie Buchalski and Chloe Scrimgeour of the Brooks Beasts line up in the women's 10000.
Former Cougar Mason Lawyer, who competed for Arizona this season, is entered in the first round of the men's 100 meters, while Central Washington alum E'Lexis Hollis goes in the women's 100.
Ridgefield native Trey Knight, who made last year's final in the hammer at the Tokyo World Championships, is in the finals of that event.
Action gets underway Thursday at 9:52 am Pacific with the decathlon 100 meters.
The Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships will be streamed and televised on a combination of Peacock ($), USATF.tv ($), NBCSN, and NBC.
SEATTLEU NAMES ALEX JENSEN INTERIM COACH AFTER JORDANA LeSAVAGE RESIGNS TO PURSUE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES...
In a short press release Tuesday, Seattle University announced the resignation of Jordana LeSavage as head cross country and track coach in order to pursue other professional opportunities.
Current assistant coach and Redhawk alum Alex Jensen will serve as acting head coach. A national search for the program's next head coach will begin following the conclusion of the 2026 cross country season.
"Alex's familiarity with the program, student athletes and Seattle University’s mission will provide valuable continuity during this transition," SeattleU athletic director Shaney Fink said. "We have full confidence in his ability to lead our team and are grateful for his willingness to step into this role."
NOTE: USA Track & Field, and the sports information office of Seattle University contributed to this report.
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