A quick look at the top U.S. track and field athletes this season

By Scott Bush, DyeStat Editor

With the first three IAAF Diamond League meets in the books, including the Prefontaine Classic, Americans are showing well on the IAAF performance lists this season. Here's a quick look at all of the American athletes leading the current world rankings.

Americans Ranked World #1

(as of June 1, 2017)

Christian Taylor (triple jump)

Taylor is on his way to having another world-dominating season, leaping to the third-furthest triple jump performance in history last weekend at the Prefontaine Classic with his 59-5 (18.11m) effort. With Jonathan Edwards' 60-0.25 (18.29m) world record (set in 1995) in his sights, Taylor is showing the form necessary to make a real run at the mark this season. Even better for Americans, Will Claye has clearly established himself as the number two jumper in the world this season. 

Sandi Morris (pole vault)

Morris closed out the month of May by overtaking fellow American Jenn Suhr for the top spot in the world rankings. vaulting 15-10.50 (4.84m) to better Suhr's former world-leading mark of 15-10 (4.83m) set earlier in May. Morris had a slow start to her season, but has quickly found her rhythm. The battle involving Morris and Suhr at the USATF Outdoor Championships is going to be a must-see event. 

Tori Bowie (200 meters)

The fact that Bowie is ranked #1 in the world in the 200 meters isn't necessarily a surprise, rather it's only surprising in terms of what she had to do in order to take the top spot. Bowie ran 21.77 at the Prefontaine Classic, beating reigning Olympic champions Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Elaine Thompson, as well as Dafne Schippers and Allyson Felix. Bowie's performance ties her as the 15th-fastest in history - which bodes well as the major meets of the summer approach. 

Christian Coleman (200 meters)

The University of Tennessee junior has quickly become one of the all-time NCAA sprint greats and a legit contender to not only make Team USA for the IAAF World Championships in London, but contend for a medal. The real question is, will he choose to focus on the 100, 200 or try his hand in both? Coleman currently ranks #1 in the world in the 200 with his wind-legal 19.85 performance last weekend at the University of Kentucky, his second time breaking the 20-second barrier this season. 

Keni Harrison (100-meter hurdles)

How good is Harrison? The 100 hurdles world record holder broke a bone falling in warm-ups at the Doha Diamond League meet, only to line up and race, winning in the third-fastest time in the world this year over a loaded field. Harrison continues to dominate the event, owning the first- and third-fastest marks in the world this season, with her world leader coming at the Drake Relays in April with a 12.56 effort. 

Fred Kerley (400 meters)

Along with Coleman, the future of American sprint talent looks bright. Kerley broke Quincy Watts' collegiate record 44.00 in the 400, set in 1992, last weekend when he ran 43.70 in Austin. His performance took more than a quarter of a second off the record, while making him the seventh-fastest performer all-time. Kerley has simply dominated his event this year, running three of the top four fastest times in the world this season and four of the top seven. 

Ashley Spencer (400-meter hurdles)

The reigning Olympic bronze medalist came up big last week at the Prefontaine Classic, beating fellow Americans Shamier Little and Georganne Moline to not only win the IAAF Diamond League contest, scoring some nice points in the 400 hurdle event, but came away with the world-leading mark of 53.38. Spencer's mark was a personal best and shows she continues to come into her own in the event after focusing on the 400 meters for some time, including her silver medal performane in the event at the IAAF World Indoor Championships last year. 

Clayton Murphy (800 meters)

The surprise Olympic medalist is having a fantastic 2017 campaign, thus far. He leads the world this season with the fastest mark in the 800 with a 1:43.60 showing in mid-April. Murphy showed his versatility last weekend at the Prefontaine Classic by placing fifth in the Bowerman Mile and is set to attack the 1,000-meter American record of 2:13.9h set in 1974 by Rick Wohlhuter at the June 10-11 Portland Track Festival. 

Brittney Reese (long jump)

Reese is once again proving to the world that she's the finest long jumper of this generation. The reigning Olympic silver medalist owns the top two marks in the world so far this season, including her leap of 23 feet (7.01m) from her victorious effort at the Prefontaine Classic, besting American rival Tianna Bartoletta, who beat Reese last year in Rio. These two will square off a few more times this season, which should prove for some excellent theatrics.

Joe Kovacs (shot put)

74 feet, 0.75 inches (22.57m.) That's the mark Kovacs threw down in mid-May, a mark which pushed him up the all-time rankings to No. 8. While fellow American Ryan Crouser got the best of Kovacs at the Prefontaine Classic and owns spots Nos. 2-5 on the 2017 performance list, Kovacs is making sure the rivalry between he and Crouser stays healthy. These two will battle at the USATF Outdoor Championships later this month and again at the IAAF World Championships.