Saturday’s USATF New York City Grand Prix serves as the last big domestic meet before USATF Outdoor Championships. On the track, the meet is sprint and mid-distance focused with many of the fields functioning as dress rehearsals before the American track and field world descends on Eugene, Oregon in two weeks. 

Here are several storylines to watch on Saturday:

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabby Thomas Battle In 400m

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will run her second 400m race of the year, after her debut in Paris two weeks ago. McLaughlin-Levrone went out very hard in Paris and was caught by Marileidy Paulino in the final 100 meters. 

On Saturday, how McLaughlin-Levrone approaches the race will be just as interesting as her finishing time. She will dial the opening the 200m back a bit—but how much? This is her first season of 400m running since 2019 so we don’t have an idea of how she likes to approach the flat 400m. How much of an improvement can she make on that 49.71 from Paris?

Expect Gabby Thomas to give McLaughlin-Levrone a great race. Thomas is more known for the 200m (and 100m) runner, but don’t forget she had a viral 4x400m moment in college that had everyone wondering about her potential in the quarter. 

What an incredible final leg of the 4x400m relay for Gabby Thomas and Harvard wins it! #GoCrimson #IvyHeps pic.twitter.com/PNT6uz6Ld1

— Harvard T&F | XC (@HarvardTFXC) May 6, 2018

Some of those questions were answered this year when Thomas ran 49.68 at the end of April—a time only three women have bettered in 2023. Thomas looked sharp during her appearance in Paris, racing to a 22.05 in the 200m to secure the victory.  

Athing Mu Makes Her Season Debut

This will be Athing Mu’s first race in 11 months and it will come against top U.S. competition in the women’s 800m. Ajee Wilson, Allie Wilson, Charlene Lipsey, Sage Hurta-Klecker and Olivia Baker are all entered. Because she has the bye and doesn’t need to finish top three at the U.S. Championships, Mu is on a different timeline than the rest of the women in this race. 

The Olympic/world champion is back!

8️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ on Saturday in NYC pic.twitter.com/hwqXApAyY9

— FloTrack (@FloTrack) June 21, 2023

The World Championships are her target and sharpness isn’t a priority with eight weeks still remaining. However, she will still be favored to win the race. 

That’s the result of winning the last two gold medals. Keely Hodgkinson, who was second to Mu in the last two championships, is on a tear in 2023. After a productive indoor season, she’s already run a lifetime best of 1:55.77 in her lone outdoor appearance. 

It’s unlikely Mu runs that fast on Saturday with the focus centered on securing a victory and getting used to racing again after such a long time away. 

Where Does Will Sumner Stack Up In The Men’s 800m?

This race serves as a good test prior to the U.S. Championships with five of the eight fastest Americans of 2023 in this race. Will Sumner will command the most attention after he negative split a 1:44.26 to win the NCAA title two weeks ago. Meeting him at the start line will be veterans Bryce Hoppel, Clayton Murphy and Isaiah Harris as well as Brandon Miller and Hobbs Kessler. Kessler has run the second fastest 15000m by an American this year, 3:32.61.

HUGE PR 🔥 1:44.26 🔥 by frosh phenom WILL SUMNER en route to the #NCAATF 800m title!!!

That’s No. 4️⃣ all-time for college & No. 2️⃣ all-time in meet history

He negative-split 53.12 & 51.15 💀@UGATrack

pic.twitter.com/I9V4fd9DI5

— FloTrack (@FloTrack) June 10, 2023

The test will be to see if Sumner can keep his momentum going from the NCAA season. He doesn’t appear to be over-raced. Sumner ran seven 800m races this outdoor season, but four of them came in prelim/semifinal settings. 

Noah Lyles Leads The Way In The 200m; Compelling Men’s & Women’s 100m

A series of scratches have left Noah Lyles as the main attraction in the men's 200m. Last year, he went 19.61 in New York. In 2023, he’s already put down a 19.67. The likelihood of something fast is high, especially because Lyles doesn’t need to worry about qualifying in the 200m at the U.S. Championships. 

The men’s 100m features the third match-up this season between Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake and Christian Coleman of the United States. Both men will be looking for a big win to help bolster their confidence heading into the second half of the season. Coleman beat Blake, and the rest of the field, to win in Bermuda, while Blake took the victory at the LA Grand Prix. Their season bests are separated by .01 (9.89 for Blake and 9.91 for Coleman), though Coleman ran a wind-aided 9.78 and Blake put up a 9.87 in their race in Bermuda. 

Also on the start list is Zharnel Hughes of Great Britain and American Terrance Laird. Laird won the 200m at the LA Grand Prix. Hughes ran 10.00 last weekend to win a meet in Jamaica.

Aleia Hobbs is the woman to beat in the women’s 100m as she looks to peak ahead of the U.S. Championships. Hobbs has been terrific in 2023, both indoors and outdoors. It’s been two months since she ran 10.86 and almost one month since her last race so Saturday will be a good update on where she stands in the stretch run before USAs.

After Hobbs, the big question is who else will emerge as a contender to make the U.S. team. Of the seven other women in the field, six are American and all will want a pre-USAs bounce. Gabby Thomas is entered here as well as the 400m.