EUGENE — Olympic finalist Cole Hocker and star sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson came up empty on the first day of the USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships.
Among the favorites to win their events, neither got out of first-round qualifying Thursday before 2,751 at Hayward Field.
Hocker led most of the first preliminary heat of the men’s 1,500 meters, but faded on the home straight to finish a non-qualifying sixth. The University of Oregon record-holder finished in 3 minutes, 39.57 seconds.
Hayward Field hasn’t been the best venue for Richardson, who won the 100 in a swift 10.86 at last year’s U.S. Olympic trials, only to be disqualified later for a positive cannabis test.
On Thursday, Richardson started poorly and was passed late, finishing a non-qualifying fifth in 11.31.
Sha’Carri Richardson reacts after running her heat of the women’s 100 meters during Day 1 of the USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships on Thursday, June 23, 2022, at Hayward Field in Eugene.Howard Lao for The Oregonian/OregonLive
In Thursday’s field event finals, Brooke Andersen claimed the women’s hammer with a toss of 255 feet, 9 inches. Andrew Evans threw 207-8 to win the men’s discus. Quanesha Burks bounded a wind-aided 23-2 to take the long jump.
Meanwhile, there was big news on the track. Neither Hocker nor Richardson paused to talk to reporters.
Hocker must be second-guessing his decision to try to control the race from the front. He left the door open for Yared Nuguse, Eric Holt and former UO teammate Reed Brown, who all swept by him in the final 50 to qualify automatically for Saturday’s final.
The top three finishers in the heat advanced automatically. In addition, Brett Meyer, the 2019 NCAA Division II champ, qualified out of the heat on time.
Former UO runners Sam Prakel and Cooper Teare went 1-2 in the second heat of the 1,500 to qualify automatically. Prakel looked good throughout while finishing first in a comparatively slow 3:40.91.
“The plan was to be in qualifying position with 400 left, run a hard last 400 and make sure I qualify,” Prakel said. “I think I’m strong enough that I’ll recover in time for Saturday.”
Among those joining him in the final will be former UO runner Johnny Gregorek and Josh Thompson of the Portland-based Bowerman Athletic Club.
While Richardson didn’t get through qualifying in the 100, former UO runners Jenna Prandini and Marybeth Sant Price did.
Prandini, a two-time Olympian, was philosophical after finishing second in her heat in 11.18. The semifinals and final will take place on Friday.
“The first thing is to get to the finals,” she said. “I did that.”
English Gardner, her UO teammate and 100 champ in the 2016 Olympic trials, did not. Gardner was a non-qualifying sixth in the fourth heat, crossing in 11.32.
She has had a difficult time in recent years, battling injuries and a case of long-haul COVID in 2021.
“This sport is trying to usher me out,” Gardner said. “I’m not OK with it. It’s back to the drawing board to figure out my next steps.”
Oregon’s Micah Williams crosses the line of his heat in the men’s 100 meters during Day 1 of the USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships on Thursday, June 23, 2022, at Hayward Field in Eugene.Howard Lao for The Oregonian/OregonLive
UO star Micah Williams joined former UO sprinter Kyree King in the 100 semifinals. Williams bounced back from a disappointing, seventh-place finish at this month’s NCAA Outdoor Championships to qualify automatically with a third-place in his heat in 10.11.
Sinclaire Johnson of the Portland-based Union Athletics Club and Karissa Schweizer advanced in the women’s 1,500 by going 1-2 in their heat. Johnson crossed first in 4:14.43.
“I know it’s just a prelim and doesn’t count for anything, but practicing winning is never a bad thing,” she said.
Former University of Portland runner Taryn Rawlings also advanced with a third-place finish in the other first-round heat.
Donavan Brazier of the Union Athletics Club, the 2019 world outdoor champion in the 800, has been hobbled by a right foot injury. He doesn’t need to place in the top three here because of his world title. But Brazier won his first-round heat anyway in 1:46.49, the day’s best overall time.
“I’m not out there to lose,” Brazier said. “I didn’t want to try to get second. I feel I made some technical maneuvers that gave me the win. I don’t think that was off fitness or anything like that.”
In the women’s 400, five-time Olympian Allyson Felix continued to defy age, winning her first-round heat in 52.30.
The USATF U20 Championships also are taking place this week at Hayward Field. The University of Oregon’s Kohana Nakato won the women’s U20 javelin competition with a throw of 157-10.
Here are results from the USATF Outdoor Championships.
Here are results from the USATF U20 Outdoor Championships.
— Ken Goe for The Oregonian/OregonLive
KenGoe1020@gmail.com | Twitter: @KenGoe
