Hello and welcome to day four of the KFH Guide to Eugene. I know I said it yesterday, that yesterday was the best one yet, but today blows yesterday out of the water. Don’t get me wrong, yesterday was great, and I will talk more about it today, but today’s events are going to be way better. Thanks for coming back, and here is the rundown and everything you need to know for day four of the U.S. Olympic Trials. 

The Schedule of Day Four

ROTD=Race of the Day

All times in PDT

Heptathlon: Women’s Long Jump Group at 10:00 am (12:00 pm CDT)

Heptathlon: Women’s Javelin Throw at 11:10 am (1:10 pm CDT)

Qualifying: Women’s Discus at 5:00 pm (7:00 pm CDT)

Round One: Men’s 110m Hurdles at 5:05 pm (7:05 pm CDT)

Final: Women’s High Jump at 5:15 pm (7:15 pm CDT)

Final: Men’s Long Jump at 5:25 pm (7:25 pm CDT)

Final: Men’s 1500m at 5:47 pm (7:47 pm CDT)

Round One: Women’s Steeplechase at 5:59 pm (7:59 pm CDT)

Heptathlon: Heats of Women’s 800m at 6:37 pm (8:37 pm CDT)

Final: Men’s 400m at 6:59 pm (8:59 pm CDT)

ROTD/Final: Women’s 5k at 7:09 pm (9:09 pm CDT)

Final: Women’s 800m at 7:32 pm (9:32 pm CDT)

Big News In Eugene

2 High Schoolers make their respective event’s finals

For the second day in a row the two high school standouts, Quincy Wilson and Christian Miller, have made the headline as Big News. Yesterday, both advanced to the finals in their respective events. Wilson advanced via a time qualifier, which means he ran fast enough to qualify on time, not by his placing. In that specific race (400m) it was the top two finishers in each semifinal heat who got to automatically qualify, and then the next 3 fastest times, which Wilson was able to do. In this race, Wilson was able to break his own U18 World Record that he just broke, running a time of 44.59. Miller was able to do the same thing as Wilson, by receiving a time berth and qualifying to the final with a wind aided 9.94. Before I continue, I would like to explain what wind aided means for those who may not know. If a result is wind aided it means it had such a big tailwind (over +2 m/s), that the results are non ratifiable, which means they can't set world records. This is only applicable in sprints because you only get a tailwind, compared to in distance races where you get hit by both when running a full lap. In Miller’s particular race, there was a 2.6 m/s which means it was not wind legal. Miller has already run in the final of 100m due to the scheduling, he was able to place fifth in the race, with a time of 9.98. 

Noah Lyles, the reigning World Champion qualifies to the Olympics

Noah Lyles, the reigning world champion in the 100m, 200m, and the 4x100m relay, won the 100m Final yesterday in a time of 9.83, which ties his Personal Best. Finishing behind Lyles was Kenny Bednarek, who ran a time of 9.87, which is a PB for him. Behind Bednarek was Fred Kerley who was on the olympic team for this event back in 2021. Kerley finished this race running a blazing time of 9.88. All three of these men are exceptionally fast and the moral of this final is that the U.S’s 4x100m Relay team is going to be a force to be reckoned with in Paris. Lyles is going to be competing again later this week in what some may consider his best event, the 200m. Winning that event will be hard, much like winning this one was, but I believe he can do it. Through the end of the competition I suggest you should keep Noah Lyles as a man to watch for, because he is incredible.

Race of The Day

The Race of The Day today is the women’s 5000m final. I chose it as the Race of The Day for only a few simple reasons. Number one reason is that the 5000m, in my opinion, is one of the most entertaining races in track and field. My number two reason is that this specific race is filled with so many fast women who are going to make this race incredibly entertaining. Some of the best athletes include Elle St. Pierre, Parker Valby (NCAA Standout), and Elise Cranny (more about her soon). All three of these athletes had differing paths to the final and all three make this the Race of The Day. 

Athlete Spotlight

Cole Hocker

Cole Hocker, is one of the fastest men in the field heading into the final of the men’s 1500m. Another thing that Hocker has going for him is that I believe if there were to be one man that could beat Yared Nuguse, it is Hocker. Why do I think that? Well, to put it simply, Cole Hocker has the best sprint out of anyone in this field, and he is consistently able to outkick the competition at the end of these big races. For example, he was able to outkick the former Olympic Champion Matthew Centrowitz, closing a gap of almost 20 meters. Hocker is incredible to watch for all the reasons I’ve mentioned, you need to watch him today. 

Elise Cranny

Elise Cranny is the reigning U.S. Olympic Trials Champion in both the 5000m and in the 10000m, today she will look to defend her 5000m title, as she competes in the 5000m final. The 5000m is one of my favorite events to watch, and out of the field of women, Elise Cranny is one of the most exciting. In her semifinal, Cranny went from running barely under six minute pace, to running laps under 70 seconds. That incredible skill to turn on the pace super quick is what makes her entertaining, and makes her an athlete you need to watch today. 

How to watch

TV: NBC: 5:00-8:00 pm PDT (7:00-10:00 pm CDT)

Streaming: Peacock