4 key moments in track and field : NPR
Image of Steph Chambers / Getty
Records were broken and a new track legacy was forged at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Ore., where elite athletes went head-to-head in front of thousands of fans. Team USA finished with 33 medals, including 13 golds, in their best ever performance at the event.
It was the first time the world championships were held in the US, and the atmosphere made it the most vibrant international track event in years, coming after fans were barred from participating in the Olympics. Tokyo Festival last summer. Even before the pandemic hit, the 2019 championships in Doha attracted notably the small crowd.
Many runners let the excitement of their fans down, delivering record-breaking performances at Hayward Field, the mecca of the track in Eugene.
Here are some standout moments from the 10 days of championships:
Charlie Riedel / AP
Sydney McLaughlin clears world record (other)
McLaughlin, 22, broke his own world record – again – dazzling with speed and technical perfection in the 400 m hurdles. She won in 50.68 seconds on Friday, lowering her record to 0.73 seconds.
“Time is absolutely amazing, and sport is getting faster and faster,” McLaughlin said.
“It was completely unreal to have my family in the stands,” she said. “I’ve never put them together in one place. So this is huge for me. After Tokyo, there’s no one, this is like a redemption.”
McLaughlin crossed the finish line far ahead of second-place finisher, Femke Bol of the Netherlands. In third was the reigning world champion Dalilah Muhammad, the US silver medalist at the Tokyo Games and the previous world record holder in the event.
Noah Lyles breaks Michael Johnson’s US record
Lyles, 25 years old, won his much-anticipated showdown with 18-year-old Erriyon Knighton in the 200 metres, but his real opponent was in the comments box: Michael Johnson, who set a US record of 19.32 in 1996.
Lyles finished so far from the pack in the final that, after crossing the finish line, he turned to look at his watch – which initially said he had tied Johnson up. When the official date for 19.31 was announced, Lyles, his family, and the entire stadium celebrated wildly.
A special moment ensued, when Johnson – ostensibly part of the BBC – came to congratulate Lyles in person. The record was set the summer before Lyles was born.
Jake Wightman wins world gold medal, with race announcer father
British middle-distance runner Jake Wightman inflicted a massive defeat in the men’s 1500 meters – a victory recounted by Wightman’s father, who happens to be the stadium’s announcer for the this event.
Wightman, intent on improving as he finished 10th at the Tokyo Olympics, took his time before edging past the reigning Olympic and world champions in the final round, sending the crowd into a frenzy when he crossed the line in front of Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway.
“That is my son,” Geoff Wightman sayswho also trains Jake, “and he’s a world champion!”
Allyson Felix ends his world career with a record 20 medals
Felix, 36 years old, was most decorated American track and field athlete announced her retirement after the 2022 season. She has also won more world championship medals and more gold than any other athlete.
Her 19th bronze medal in the 4×400 meter medley relay. And that seemed to be all for Felix, who left Eugene. But then she flew back, after her coach called Felix (who was in love at the time Hot wings and root beer) to ask if she could help the women’s 4×400 team reach the final.
She had a strong run in the preliminary round, sending the team into Sunday’s final – which another roster then dominated, giving Felix his 14th and 20th gold medals overall.
Felix, who has also won 11 Olympic medals, made it his mission support female athletes people who need help paying for childcare so they can continue their sports careers.