It's Comeback Season For Donovan Brazier, Alicia Monson, & Athing Mu

While there are dozens of storylines to watch at the US Championships, Donovan Brazier, Alicia Monson, and Athing Mu are hoping to complete the comeback.

Jul 31, 2025 by Maxx Bradley

It's Comeback Season For Donovan Brazier, Alicia Monson, & Athing Mu

Just like that, it's already time for the 2025 U.S. Outdoor Championships, and I've got a feeling there are a lot of strong performances coming our way.

While there are plenty of stories surrounding Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Grant Holloway, and other fan favorites, there are a handful of comeback stories surrounding athletes who are household names.

Here are three superstars who are looking to make up for lost time in Eugene.

Athing Mu-Nikolayev Looks To Take Back 800m Crown

Less than two years ago, the American record holder was at the top of the 800m world lists and was coming off a world medal, as well as the first sub-1:55 performance of her career. She was undeniably the queen of the 800m.

Last June, at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, the defending Olympic champion unfortunately took a fall 200m into the final, going on to finish ninth, missing her first international championship since the 2019 Doha World Championships when she was a junior in high school.

A year removed from the fall, the 23-year-old is married and gearing up for another U.S. Championships as she looks to take back her throne. In her two 800m races this season, Mu-Nikolayev clocked 2:03.44 and 2:00.42, putting her in a strong position and solid shape heading into the championships.

Regardless of where she finished a year ago, Mu-Nikolayev is still the fastest woman in American history, and you can expect her to make that known this weekend when the gun goes off.

Donovan Brazier Is Back Like He Never Left

The last time the 2019 world champion was running this well, he was the fastest man on the continent. A few years removed from his last half-mile reign, Brazier is one of five American men to have run sub-1:44 this season, with the 28-year-old already sporting a SB of 1:43.08, the 12th-fastest time in the world this year.

The former American record holder hasn't wasted any time getting back to prior form, as his 1:43.08 performance is his fastest in nearly five years, with his last sub-1:44 run coming in Monaco in August 2020.

Like I said, the 800m is not what it was back then; in fact, it's incredibly faster. For starters, Josh Hoey (1:42.01) is a madman in the best shape of his life, and Bryce Hoppel (1:42.71) has been on a historic and dominant run in Brazier's absence.

Throw in Jonah Koech (1:43.32), Brandon Miller (1:43.52), and the other handful of contenders, and you've got yourself quite the battle for just three spots.

Alicia Monson Set For Long Distance Return

After being forced to miss the 2024 season due to a knee injury and then surgery, the 5000m and 10,000m American record holder is back on the track and looking to return to Tokyo, but this time for the world championships.

The OAC star only has one outdoor track race under her belt in the last year, which was her season debut in the 5000m at the Sunset Tour. The 27-year-old crossed in 15:01.63, her fastest time at the distance since her last race at Hayward Field, the 2023 Prefontaine Classic.

Potent veterans such as Elise Cranny, Karissa Schweizer, and now Shelby Houlihan, Monson will have her work cut out for her. She'll have a pair of opportunities to secure her spot on Team USA, starting with the 10,000m final on Thursday.

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