Six American record holders headline historically deep competitions, with Carter, Reese, Suhr and Winger all attempting to make fourth Olympic teams

The following is a chronological breakdown of the women’s field events at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Discus Throw

Schedule: June 18 (Qualifying); June 19 (Final)

Olympic standard: 208-4 (63.50m)

Entries with the Olympic standard: Valarie Allman, Whitney Ashley, Rachel Dincoff, Laulauga Tausaga

2016 qualifiers: Whitney Ashley (champion), Shelbi Vaughan, Kelsey Card

Analysis: Although the American record of 230-2 (70.15m) by Valarie Allman achieved Aug. 1 at the Iron Wood Throws Center is not considered for Olympic qualification because it was produced during the period between April 6 and Nov. 30, 2020 – when performances were not considered by World Athletics for athletes achieving the Olympic standard – she is still the strong favorite in the event, having thrown 222-3 (67.74m) on June 6 at Prairie View A&M. There is less than three feet separating Rachel Dincoff, Laulaga Tausaga and Whitney Ashley, making the pursuit for the final two Olympic berths an intriguing one that could be decided in the final rounds. Dincoff placed herself in contention following a 211-4 (64.41) effort May 20 in Tucson, with Iowa standout Tausaga finishing second June 12 at the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships after throwing 208-5 (63.53m), her best performance since the 2019 World Championships. Ashley’s experience can never be underestimated, although she has yet to surpass the 60-meter mark this year.

High Jump

Schedule: June 18 (Qualifying); June 20 (Final)

Olympic standard: 6-5 (1.96m)

Entries with the Olympic standard: Vashti Cunningham, Rachel McCoy, Jelena Rowe

2016 qualifiers: Chaunte Lowe (champion), Vashti Cunningham, Inika McPherson

Analysis: The world leader at 6-7.50 (2.02m), Vashti Cunningham might not have company in 2-meter territory at Hayward Field, but it appears she will have a pair of strong teammates capable of clearing 6-5 (1.96m) and above in Oregon, and possibly Tokyo. The last U.S. title Cunningham did not win was the 2016 Olympic Trials, where Chaunte Lowe secured the championship by clearing 6-7 (2.01m). Since then, Cunningham swept the indoor and outdoor crowns in 2017, 2018 and 2019, before winning the 2020 indoor title, the last U.S. championship event before the pandemic. She will be looking to extend her dominant domestic streak and continue to build momentum toward contending for another medal in Tokyo after earning bronze at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar. Jelena Rowe, who trains with Cunningham, has demonstrated consistency this year, in addition to Rachel McCoy, as both athletes cleared 6-5 in May. The most likely challenger to take one of their spots is South Carolina freshman Rachel Glenn, who cleared 6-4 (1.93m) to win the NCAA DIvision 1 title June 12. Glenn had three opportunities at the Olympic standard at Hayward Field, and has the potential, along with Tynita Butts-Townsend, Amina Smith and Inika McPherson, to potentially secure a trip to Tokyo.  

Triple Jump

Schedule: June 18 (Qualifying); June 20 (Final)

Olympic standard: 46-11.75 (14.32m)

Entries with the Olympic standard: Tori Franklin, Jasmine Moore, Keturah Orji

2016 qualifiers: Keturah Orji (champion), Christina Epps, Andrea Geubelle

Analysis: LSU graduate Lynnika Pitts and Rice’s Michelle Fokam, who placed third June 12 at the NCAA Division 1 Championships with a personal-best 46-0.75 (14.04m), both have the potential to achieve the Olympic standard, but it will be a significant challenge to do so, as well as prevailing against American outdoor record holder Keturah Orji, U.S. indoor record holder Tori Franklin and Division 1 runner-up Jasmine Moore of Georgia. Orji regained the American outdoor mark from Franklin with a 48-11.50 (14.92m) performance April 25 at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center. Franklin, who holds the indoor record of 48-0.50 (14.64m) from her lone victory against Orji at the 2020 U.S. Indoor Championships, has also jumped 48-8.25 (14.84m) outdoors in 2018. Moore became the third American athlete to secure the Olympic standard with her 47-2.50 (14.39m) effort May 15 at the Southeastern Conference Championships in College Station, Texas. It is an event that definitely has showcased separation among the top athletes and the rest of the field over the years in the U.S., although any matchups involving Orji and Franklin always has the potential to produce an American record.

Shot Put

Schedule: June 24 (Qualifying and Final)

Olympic standard: 60-8.50 (18.50m)

Entries with the Olympic standard: Adelaide Aquilla, Michelle Carter, Khayla Dawson, Chase Ealey, Maggie Ewen, Rachel Fatherly, Daniella Hill, Felisha Johnson, Latavia Maines, Jessica Ramsey, Raven Saunders, Jeneva Stevens, Jessica Woodard

2016 qualifiers: Michelle Carter (champion), Raven Saunders, Felisha Johnson

Analysis: Reigning Olympic gold medalist Michelle Carter, 35, will be seeking the fountain of youth once more in pursuit of making a fourth Olympic team, also placing 15th in 2008 and fourth in 2012. Carter set the American record of 67-8.25 (20.63m) to win gold in Rio de Janeiro, but hasn’t surpassed 19 meters since 2017, although she did qualify for the World Championships in 2019 in Doha, Qatar. During the past four years, the event has continued to grow deeper for the U.S., with athletes like Chase Ealey, Maggie Ewen and Raven Saunders continuing to demonstrate they can perform well on a global stage, along with promising collegiate athletes Adelaide Aquilla of Ohio State, Khayla Dawson of Indiana and Latavia Maines of Tennessee all achieving the Olympic standard. Aquilla, the Division 1 indoor and outdoor shot put champion, could play spoiler to one of the established veterans if she can surpass the 19-meter mark again. Jessica Ramsey and Felisha Johnson, both having thrown well beyond 63 feet, also have the potential to earn spots on the U.S. roster in an event that will likely be decided by a few centimeters to determine who is headed to Tokyo. 

Hammer Throw

Schedule: June 24 (Qualifying); June 26 (Final)

Olympic standard: 237-10 (72.50m)

Entries with the Olympic standard: Brooke Andersen, Gwen Berry, Janee’ Kassanavoid, DeAnna Price

2016 qualifiers: Amber Campbell (champion), Gwen Berry, DeAnna Price

Analysis: The good news for Americans is they have four of the top five competitors in the world this year. Even better news is with DeAnna Price being the reigning World Championships gold medalist, the U.S. will have the opportunity to have a quartet of athletes competing in 2022 for the global final at Hayward Field. The unfortunate scenario is when it comes to the Olympics, only three of the four are able to secure berths to throw in Tokyo, making this one of the most demanding competitions ever at the Olympic Trials. Janee’ Kassanavoid, with a personal-best 247-8 (75.50m) on May 22 in Arizona, is looking for her breakthrough to compete internationally, with Brooke Andersen, Gwen Berry and Price having represented the U.S. in 2019 at the World Championships in Doha, Qatar. But Kassanavoid is still going to have to improve another four feet, at least, to be able to take a spot away from the aforementioned trio, all capable of earning a medal in Tokyo, if not winning the Olympic title. Erin Reese, the 2019 NCAA Division 1 runner-up at Indiana State with a personal-best 237-1 (72.27m) from the USATF Grand Prix at the Oregon Relays on April 24 at Hayward Field, is closing in on the Olympic standard, which could be instrumental, in the event any of the world leaders struggle. Price will be looking to improve on her American record 257-10 (78.60m) achieved April 9 in Missouri. 

Long Jump

Schedule: June 24 (Qualifying); June 26 (Final)

Olympic standard: 22-4.50 (6.82m)

Entries with the Olympic standard: Quanesha Burks, Tara Davis, Kenyattia Hackworth, Jasmine Moore, Keturah Orji, Malaina Payton, Brittney Reese, Sha’Keela Saunders

2016 qualifiers: Brittney Reese (champion), Tianna Bartoletta, Janay DeLoach

Analysis: It took 22-8.75 (6.93m) to make the team at the 2016 Olympic Trials, and it could require a jump better than that with the exceptional group assembled this year, which doesn’t even include Kendell Williams – a 7-meter performer who is only focusing on the heptathlon – or another former Georgia standout Kate Hall, a 22-5 (6.83m) competitor who has not jumped this year. Brittney Reese, 34, is seeking her fourth Olympics after winning in 2012 and placing second in 2016. Reese is the last athlete to surpass the 7-meter mark at Hayward Field in 2017, but she could have company this time around in her showdown with collegiate indoor and outdoor record holder and two-time Division 1 champion Tara Davis of Texas. Davis soared to a wind-legal 23-5.25 (7.14m), No. 2 in the world this year, at the 93rd Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in March and is attempting to become the first NCAA winner to also secure the victory at the Trials in the same year. Reese has a pair of wind-aided performances beyond 7 meters at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center, and has made a career of showing up biggest in the most important moments. But there are so many quality competitors that even Davis and Reese aren’t safe if they aren’t jumping around 23 feet again. Tianna Bartoletta can never be overlooked in any national championship, with combination jumpers Keturah Orji and Jasmine Moore also emerging as legitimate contenders as well. Quanesha Burks, the 2020 U.S. indoor champion and 2015 NCAA Division 1 outdoor winner at Alabama, is also highly motivated, as well as former Oregon standout and 2019 World Championships qualifier Jasmine Todd. Sha’Keela Saunders, who also competed at Worlds in Doha, Qatar, has plenty of international experience, with Malaina Payton and Kenyattia Hackworth both looking to emerge from a group of 22-foot competitors by producing one big jump when it matters most.

Pole Vault

Schedule: June 24 (Qualifying); June 26 (Final)

Olympic standard: 15-5 (4.70m)

Entries with the Olympic standard: Emily Grove, Olivia Gruver, Bridget Guy-Williams, Morgann LeLeux Romero, Sandi Morris, Katie Nageotte, Jenn Suhr

2016 qualifiers: Jenn Suhr (champion), Sandi Morris, Lexi Jacobus

Analysis: A pair of former U.S. champions, Katie Nageotte and Sandi Morris, enter the meet as two of the top three competitors in the world. Nageotte cleared 16-2 (4.93m) on May 23 in Georgia, with Morris achieving a 15-10.50 (4.84m) performance on May 28 in her return to Doha, Qatar, site of the 2019 World Championships. If both athletes are in top form, they are expected to take two of the spots to represent the U.S. in Tokyo. The questions surrounding the final qualifier begin with the 39-year-old Jenn Suhr, looking to make her fourth Olympic team, although she has yet to compete this year. Four additional athletes have the Olympic standard, with several others capable of reaching the necessary 15-5 (4.70m) clearance. If Suhr, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist, doesn’t qualify again, expect the battle for the final spot to come down to Olivia Gruver and Bridget Guy-Williams, who have both cleared at least 15-5.50 (4.71m) this year. Emily Grove and Morgann Leleux Romero are both capable of producing a 15-5 clearance, along with Kortney Oates and Megan Clark, but it will likely take more than just the Olympic standard to earn a spot on the U.S. roster, providing the weather cooperates.

Javelin Throw

Schedule: June 25 (Qualifying); June 26 (Final)

Olympic standard: 209-11 (64.00m)

Entries with the Olympic standard: Maggie Malone, Kara Winger

2016 qualifiers: Maggie Malone (champion), Kara Winger, Brittany Borman

Analysis: The competition is a tale of two American record holders and their respective journeys back from injuries to potentially represent the U.S. again in Tokyo, just like they did five years ago in Rio de Janeiro. Maggie Malone, who recently eclipsed the long-standing American record of 35-year-old Kara Winger, didn’t throw in 2018 or 2020, the latter also having much to do with the pandemic. Winger competed once last year, throwing 211-5 (64.44m) in August before suffering a torn ACL, which she has been able to rehabilitate in time to return to competition. Winger, a three-time Olympian, finally did so May 22 in Arizona, throwing 200 feet (60.97m) in her lone tuneup for the Olympic Trials. Malone has been building momentum since March, culminating with a 219-2 (66.82m) performance May 29 at the Chula Vista Field Festival at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center that surpassed Winger’s 218-8 (66.67m) from 2010 in Des Moines, Iowa. With Malone and Winger the only two American athletes entering the competition with the Olympic standard, it puts added pressure on Ariana Ince, Avione Allgood-Whetstone and Auburn graduate Kylee Carter to either achieve the desired 209-11 (64.00m) mark to automatically qualify, or throw well enough to elevate their position in the World Rankings quota. Ince boasts the best chance of the trio with her 208-5 (63.54m) effort from 2019.