USATF Outdoor Championships

Top 7 Moments From USA Outdoors: Day 1

Top 7 Moments From USA Outdoors: Day 1

Jun 25, 2015 by Karsten Kaufmann
Top 7 Moments From USA Outdoors: Day 1


7. Boris Berian Has a Sponsor and Advanced in 800m

Boris Berian had no sponsor when he declared for the USATF Outdoor Championships, but when he toed the line in the heat of the day, Berian was wearing a purple Nike singlet. No press release, no Instagram post, but a simple change in his Twitter bio was good enough to announce his new sponsorship. Berian took a big “Q” and advanced onto the next round of the men's 800m.



6. Jeremy Wariner Through To The Next Round

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Jeremy Wariner recorded another seasonal best and made it through to the next round off of a time qualifier. Wariner failed to qualify out of the first round of competition in the 2013 USATF Outdoor Championships. 


5. Leah O'Connor Advances in Steeplechase and Signs with adidas

The 2014 NCAA steeplechase champion cruised her way to a runner-up finish in the first round of the women's steeplechase and happily made the announcement in the media area that she has signed with adidas as her sponsor. O'Connor was wearing her Michigan State jersey during the race, and had planned on making an announcement heading into the final round, but the results gave her surprise away as they listed her as running under the adidas shoe sponsor.


4. Travyon Bromell Runs 9.84 100m, 2nd Fastest Time in 2015

Trayvon Bromell continues to PR as he ran the fastest time of the day in the 100m with a mark of 9.84. The mark stands as the second fastest time in 2015, and makes him the 10th fastest man in the world. Bromell was pleased with his performance, as he was seen “high-fiving” himself moments after his performance.


3. U.S. #7 All-Time for Marquis Dendy

On his first attempt of the day, Florida’s seven-time NCAA Champion Marquis Dendy jumped an extremely impressive 8.68m in the long jump at Hayward Field. This was good for a U.S. #7 mark (all conditions). Dendy’s wind-aided leap would ultimately stand as the best mark of the day and a ticket to the World Championships in Beijing.

2. Molly Huddle, Shalane Flanagan, Emily Infeld All Advance To Bejing in 10K



Shalane Flanagan
went straight to the front of the women's 10K in the first of two final running events of the evening. By the mile mark, a tight group of eight separated themselves from the rest of the field. Alexi Pappas was the first to drop at the 6K mark, followed by New Balance's Emily Sisson at 7K, and finally Amy Hastings-Cragg fell off the train with 1K to go. As the group of three approached the final 400m meters, Molly Huddle took to the front and started to notch the pace down. A 15m gapped formed as the trio came around the final Bowerman curve and Huddle was crowned champion after thirty one minutes and nineteen seconds of racing. The teammates Emily Infeld and Shalane Flanagan crossed the line together. Obviously, hugs were in order.


1. Galen Rupp wins 7th U.S. 10K Title

Crowd favorite Galen Rupp did not disappoint in the final event of the night. The American record-holder in the 10K sat in the middle of the pack early in the race, and slowly snuck himself into the third position by the 5K mark. With only four laps to go, 10 men still remained in contention. With just under three laps to go, the grand stands of Hayward Field collectively gasped as the former Duck nearly took a tumble. Rupp then peeled off into lane two and took to the front. Ben True, Hassan Mead, and Shadrack Kipchirchir all followed as they managed to separate themselves from the field. Every 200m or so Rupp cranked it down another gear, and the pace continued to quicken. With a lap to go, Rupp, True and Mead were in the clear and punched their tickets to Beijing. This performance marks the first World Championship team for Ben True and Hassan Mead.


After winning the 10K title, Rupp addressed the media's questions on the recent doping allegations surrounding himself and his coach Alberto Salazar. Rupp will return on Sunday to take on the 5K competition.