Price one of five female athletes to repeat on third day, along with Cunningham, Harrison, Houlihan and Wimbley; Reese returns to capture first long jump crown since 2016, eighth overall

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

DES MOINES – For several elite American female athletes, Saturday’s competition at the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships had a similar feeling to last year’s event at Drake Stadium, all the way down to DeAnna Price setting another U.S. record in the hammer throw.

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Price was one of five repeat women’s winners crowned on the third day of the national meet in Iowa, with Brittney Reese returning to the top of the podium in the long jump for the first time since 2016, securing the eighth title of her decorated career.

With back-to-back championships already secure, Price let loose on her final throw and launched the hammer 256 feet, 8 inches (78.24m), improving on her world lead and status as the No. 4 all-time performer in event history.

“This morning when I woke up, my hips were locking up and I was tight, but I was like, ‘Don’t worry about it, don’t think about it, just do what you do best,’ so it was great. (Throwing) 78.24m with tight hips, to me, I’m thinking about 80m,” said Price, who equaled the No. 25 performance in history, with Poland’s Anita Wlodarczyk accounting for 22 of the 24 marks in front of her.

“This year has been hard. There were times when I couldn’t walk. My physical therapist was holding me together with duct tape and wires.”

Price, who achieved the previous American record in the fifth round last year with a mark of 256-3 (78.12m), joins Wlodarczyk and Germany’s Betty Heidler as the only three women in the world with multiple 78-meter efforts in their careers. Gwen Berry took second at 250-10 (76.46m) and Brooke Andersen placed third at 247 feet (75.30m).

“It was more of staying connected through the whole entire throw. I was getting a little excited on my other ones, so I was pulling out of (turns) three and four, so this one, (my husband and coach J.C. Lambert) he was like, ‘Just keep working, just work three and four.’ Going 78.24m on my last throw is a good indicator of what’s to come.”

Vashti Cunningham captured her third consecutive outdoor high jump crown, sixth national title in a row and seventh overall in the past four years – including indoor championships – with a first-attempt clearance at 6-5 (1.96m) before stopping after one try at a potential personal-best 6-7 (2.01m).

Inika McPherson took second at 6-4.25 (1.94m), with Tynita Butts placing third at 6-3.50 (1.92m).

“I felt really good throughout the entire competition. My body feels really healthy and my mind feels really healthy, so going into these higher heights after breaking that barrier of jumping 2 meters (at the Prefontaine Classic), I just feel very confident and very comfortable out there,” said Cunningham, who became the sixth American female high jumper to win at least three straight outdoor crowns.

“I wanted to get over 2.01m. My dad (and coach Randall Cunningham) told me, ‘Take one attempt and shut it down after.’ I was striving to make it on my first attempt, but I know I could have had it on my last two. I just had to shut it down and listen to him.”

Reese, the reigning World champion, already had her berth secure to compete in October in Doha, Qatar.

But Reese still wanted to reaffirm her position as the elite jumper in the U.S., producing a second-round leap of 22-11.75 (7.00m) to match Jackie Joyner-Kersee with her eighth outdoor championship, moving into a tie for third all-time among American female athletes, trailing only Stella Walsh with 11 (1930-51) and Willye White with 10 (1960-72).

Jasmine Todd took second with a mark of 22-3.50 (6.79m), just ahead of both Sha’Keela Saunders and Tori Bowie at 22-3 (6.78m). Since Reese already qualified, the U.S. will be allowed to have four jumpers compete at the World Championships.

“This was a good one. I wanted to go out and try to get the world lead, but I still ended up getting a 7-meter jump and I got it to be legal (after a wind-aided 7.01m effort May 26 in Chula Vista), so I’m really impressed with that,” said Reese, who ranks second only to Germany’s Malaika Mihambo at 23-2.50 (7.07m) among wind-legal marks this year.

“I know I’ve got eight weeks left to get ready, so to me I’m right on schedule and where I need to be, I just need to straighten up some things and get some more speed work in and everything will fall into place.”

Keni Harrison captured her third consecutive 100-meter hurdles crown, clocking 12.44 seconds into a headwind, just 0.01 off her season-best performance July 12 at the Monaco Diamond League meeting.

Harrison remained unbeaten in 10 races this season, including three performances under 12.50. Nia Ali ran 12.55 and Brianna McNeal clocked 12.61 for third. The U.S. could also potentially send a fourth athlete to the World Championships if Harrison, Ali or McNeal win the Diamond League final.

“It means a lot. It means I do have what it takes to come out and here and get the job done. It means the world,” said Harrison, who became the first female athlete since Gail Devers (1999-2004) to win at least three in a row.

“The more I run against these girls, the more confident I get. You just have to control your nerves and I’m able to do that a lot better (now) than in the past.”

Shelby Houlihan repeated in the women’s 1,500, covering the final lap in 60.59 seconds to prevail in a facility record 4:03.18, eclipsing the mark of 4:03.35 set by Jenny Simpson at the 2013 Drake Relays.

“I grew up here, running state and Drake relays, so this track is really familiar,” Houlihan said. “I have a lot of good vibes associated with it. To have the stadium record is just a cherry on top.”

Simpson took second (4:03.41) and Nikki Hiltz took third (4:03.55), as the top five athletes were separated by 0.64 in the fastest and most tightly packed race in USATF championship history.

“I love and respect Jenny. She’s someone I’ve looked up to most of my career,” Houlihan said. “To be able to run against her, here, at home, it’s pretty awesome.”

Shakima Wimbley defended her 400-meter title in 50.21 seconds, prevailing against Kendall Ellis (50.38) and South Carolina junior Wadeline Jonathas (50.44).

“I feel like I got out pretty well, but my final stretch was a little wobbly because of the wind. I was just fighting to the line with all I had, so I’m really grateful,” said Wimbley, who became the first female athlete to repeat as champion since Allyson Felix in 2015-16.

“It feels amazing. Last year, it was great to win, but this year is even sweeter, now that I made my first individual World spot, so it means a lot to me.”

Felix was attempting to make her ninth consecutive appearance at the World Championships, which would have made her the only American athlete to achieve the feat.

But the three-time 400 champion placed sixth in 51.94, which likely won’t include her in the 4x400 relay pool, since Phyllis Francis – only competing in the 200 in Des Moines – is the reigning World champion in the 400 and needs to be factored into the group as well.