Building the Home Team

Oregon 22 is getting close!  So close in fact that the team will be formed this weekend at the U.S. Championships, which will be held at the exact same venue...Hayward Field.  Part of a crazy six weeks at Hayward Field, which hosted the NCAA Championships two weeks ago, the National High School Championships last week, and the U.S. Senior and Junior Championships this week.  That's right.  There are some college coaches and athletes who could conceivably spend a month in Oregon preparing for and competing in three major championship meets without ever having to leave!

I'm curious to see how the timing of everything impacts the college athletes.  Nationals are always around this time, but the global meet usually isn't until much later in the summer.  And maintaining their peak for that long can be difficult.  But maintaining your peak for a month while not having to go anywhere?  That's vastly different!  And it could be hugely beneficial!

We won't be building the entire team this weekend.  Because Worlds are so close to U.S. Nationals, they had the 10k's last month at the Prefontaine Classic (also in Eugene), and the heptathlon/decathlon were a couple weeks ago in Arkansas.  And the race walks are always held earlier in the year.  The marathon teams, meanwhile, were picked last year based on results at specific marathons.  The three highest-placing Americans were given the opportunity.

Don't forget about the wild cards, either.  Defending World Champions and defending Diamond League winners get automatic berths at Worlds.  The U.S. has 10 defending World Champions and eight Diamond League champions.  However, in some events (such as the men's 100 and men's 200), both the 2019 World Champion and 2021 Diamond League winner are Americans.  The World Championship supersedes, so that means those Diamond League winners still need to qualify.

What's interesting about that, though, is athletes are required to run at the U.S. Nationals to claim their wild card.  They don't need to run their primary event, though, so will Christian Coleman, who has a wild card in the 100 only run the 200?  Likewise, will Noah Lyles only run the 100?  (The start lists are already out, and Coleman is in the 100 and Lyles is in the 200.)

Winning Olympic gold also has no bearing on World Championships qualification, so Oregon native Ryan Crouser will have to go top three at Nationals.  So will Katie Nageotte, Athing Mu and Sydney McLaughlin.  (Valarie Allman also won the Diamond League last season, so she's all set.)

Because of wild cards, the U.S. will have four entries in 14 different events: men's 100, men's 200, men's 400, men's 800, men's 110 hurdles, men's pole vault, men's triple jump, men's shot put, women's 400, women's 100 hurdles, women's 400 hurdles, women's shot put, women's discus, women's hammer throw.  Which doesn't make those events any less competitive at Nationals.  In fact, I think the fact that those will be some of the most competitive events!

U.S. Nationals is always one of the most competitive meets in the world every year.  There are people who could be medalists at Worlds who won't even make the team!  (Just ask Keni Harrison and Maggie Ewen about that.)  Throw in the fact that Worlds aren't just in the U.S., but on the exact same track, and there will be some battles this weekend!

This is a chance for some athletes to gain some redemption, too.  Christian Coleman couldn't compete at Olympic Trials last year because he was suspended for missed doping tests.  Sha'Carri Richardson did run at Olympic Trials and won the 100, only to fail her doping test and get DQed, costing her a shot at running in Tokyo.  As a result, she's still looking to make her first U.S. team.

Let's not forget the Oregon factor either.  There will be plenty of Oregon Ducks who you know will be spurred on by the home crowd.  That includes Devon Allen, who ran a time that I still can't believe last week in New York...and I was at the freakin' meet!  And Raevyn Rogers is on the giant tower outside the stadium, so it goes without saying that she'll have some support.

So, who'll make the cut?  As usual, I'm expecting to see a few surprises.  But there are also some athletes who've dominated their event so much this season that they're virtual locks to return to Eugene for Worlds (and maybe even win medals next month.)  With all that in mind, here's who I've got representing the home team at Oregon 22...

Men's 100: *Christian Coleman, Trayvon Bromell, Fred Kerley, Kyree King
Men's 200: *Noah Lyles, Erriyon Knighton, Kenny Bednarek, Christian Coleman
Men's 400: *Michael Cherry, Michael Norman, Randolph Ross, Will London
Men's 800: *Donavan Brazier, Clayton Murphy, Bryce Hoppel, Isaiah Harris
Men's 1500: Cole Hocker, Cooper Teare, Yared Nuguse
Men's 5000: Paul Chelimo, Woody Kincaid, Emmanuel Bor
Men's 110 Hurdles: *Grant Holloway, Devon Allen, Daniel Roberts, Trey Cunningham
Men's 400 Hurdles: Rai Benjamin, Amere Lattin, Quincy Hall
Men's Steeplechase: Hillary Bor, Bernard Keter, Mason Ferlic
Men's Long Jump: JuVaughn Harrison, Marquis Dendy, Steffin McCarter
Men's Triple Jump: *Christian Taylor, Will Claye, Donald Scott, Chris Benard
Men's High Jump: JuVaughn Harrison, Shelby McEwen, Vernon Turner
Men's Pole Vault: *Sam Kedricks, Chris Nilsen, KC Lightfoot, Andrew Irwin
Men's Shot Put: *Joe Kovacs, Ryan Crouser, Tripp Piperi, Payton Otterdahl
Men's Discus: Sam Mattis, Reggie Jagers, Andrew Evans
Men's Hammer Throw: Rudy Winkler, Daniel Haugh, Sean Donnelly
Men's Javelin: Mike Shuey, Curtis Thompson, Ethan Dabbs
Men's 4x100: Marvin Bracy, Isiah Young, Mike Rodgers
Men's 4x400: Bryce Deadmon, Vernon Norwood, Elija Godwin, Champion Allison

Women's 100: Sha'Carri Richardson, Aleia Hobbs, Teahna Daniels
Women's 200: Abby Steiner, Gabby Thomas, Anavia Battle
Women's 400: *Quanera Hayes, Talitha Diggs, Allyson Felix, Wadeline Jonathas
Women's 800: Athing Mu, Ajee Wilson, Raevyn Rogers
Women's 1500: Elle Purrier St. Pierre, Sinclaire Johnson, Cory McGee
Women's 5000: Elise Cranny, Josette Norris, Karissa Schweizer
Women's 100 Hurdles: *Nia Ali, Keni Harrison, Gabby Cunningham, Christina Clemons
Women's 400 Hurdles: *Dalilah Muhammad, Sydney McLaughlin, Shamier Little, Anna Cockrell
Women's Steeplechase: Emma Coburn, Courtney Frerichs, Courtney Wayment
Women's Long Jump: Tara Davis, Quanesha Burks, Monae Nichols
Women's Triple Jump: Tori Franklin, Keturah Orji, Jasmine Moore
Women's High Jump: Vashti Cunningham, Jelena Rowe, Rachel McCoy
Women's Pole Vault: Sandi Morris, Katie Nageotte, Olivia Gruver
Women's Shot Put: *Maggie Ewen, Chase Ealey, Jessica Ramsey, Raven Saunders
Women's Discus: *Valarie Allman, Rachel Dincoff, Laulauga Tausaga-Collins, Veronica Fraley
Women's Hammer Throw: *DeAnna Price, Brooke Andersen, Janee Kassanavoid, Alyssa Wilson
Women's Javelin: Kara Winger, Ariana Ince, Maggie Malone
Women's 4x100: Marybeth Sant Price, Cambrea Sturgis, Javianne Oliver
Women's 4x400: Kendall Ellis, Kaylin Whitney, Lynna Irby, Taylor Manson

Now, this is assuming the top three finishers in each event have the qualifying standard.  Even if they don't, they can still get in via their world ranking, which we won't find out until Worlds get closer.  But they can't get too much closer.  Especially now that the team is about to be named.