Track and Field Preview
USA Track & Field is coming off stellar performances at the Olympic Games Rio 2016, where Team USA won 32 medals, and the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, where the U.S. won 29 medals with two world record-setting performances, five American records and four world championship records.
The late-season 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha offered a preview of the fireworks to come at Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021. America's top track and field stars had to balance preparations for the world championships with the demands of training for an Olympic year that has now been postponed.
Recognized as one of the most successful countries in track and field over the past decades, Team USA will rely on traditionally strong areas like the sprints and hurdles, along with emerging challengers in the distances and field events to maintain their top spot on the Olympic medal table and in the team scoring.
Reigning Olympic gold medalists like Matthew Centrowitz, Jeff Henderson, Christian Taylor and Ryan Crouser are leading candidates for the U.S. men's team. They will be bolstered by younger luminaries such as sprinters Noah Lyles and Michael Norman, middle distance aces Donavan Brazier and Clayton Murphy, hurdlers Grant Holloway and Rai Benjamin, and pole vaulter Sam Kendricks.
Brianna McNeal led an American sweep of the women's 100-meter hurdles at the Rio Games and Nia Ali claimed World Championship gold in Doha, and Team USA could repeat the feat in Tokyo. Dalilah Muhammad reigns as 400 hurdles Olympic and world champion and broke the world record twice in 2019, but world silver medalist Sydney McLaughlin will be her biggest competition for the podium. Hammer thrower DeAnna Price shook the world with the first American hammer throw medal at a world championships and Gwen Berry, who claimed the 2019 Pan American gold and is ranked top-10 in the world, is a top challenger to Price. A one-two finish at the Rio Games by long jumpers Tianna Bartoletta and Brittney Reese keyed American field events, complemented by a gold medal in shot put by Michelle Carter. Each are still in contention for the Tokyo Games, as Team USA is buoyed by middle distance medal hopefuls like Shelby Houlihan, Raevyn Rogers and Ajee Wilson.
No matter who makes up the final squad in Tokyo, Team USA will again be the team to defeat in the marquee sport of the Olympic Games.
Updated on July 17, 2020. For more information, contact the sport press officer here.
