**Valarie Allman celebrates after throwing 69.92m in the discus to earn her spot on the Olympic Team. Photo by Matt Parker**

By Caela Fenton and Kate Walkup

EUGENE, Ore. – To conclude day two of the 2020 Track and Field Olympic Trials at Hayward Field, the women’s 100m final featured a blazing fast field. In the final event of the day, Sha’Carri Richardson took the top spot, running 10.86. She was followed by Javianne Oliver (10.99) and Teahna Daniels (11.03). It will be their first Olympics for all three athletes.

In Richardson’s semi-finals performance earlier in the day, she ran her fastest time of the competition (10.64).

In the women’s discus, Valarie Allman threw 69.92m to be crowned Olympic Trials Champion. Allman was followed by Micaela Hazelwood (PB 62.54) and Rachel Dincoff (60.21). Allman’s meet-record heave (70.01m) in the qualifying round stood as her farthest throw of the competition.

“Coming in [in 2016], I just had the goal of trying to make the Olympic Team, and I missed it by three feet,” Allman said. “It was in that moment that I really realized I wanted to try again to be an Olympian and represent the United States.

“To now be here five years later, after so much hard work—it’s the best feeling.”

Kicking off the hurdling events for the trials, Taliyah Brooks won the second heat of the women’s 100m hurdles first round, recording a personal best and Olympic “A” standard of 12.61. Keni Harrison (12.49), Anna Cockrell (12.63) and Brianna McNeal (12.50)—all having previously achieved the Olympic “A” standard—won their heats to advance to the semifinals scheduled for Sunday June 20th.

Harrison, the world record holder in the 100m hurdles, projected focus in her post-race interview: “My mindset is to come out here and win every round.”

In the women’s 1,500m semifinals, Elle Purrier St. Pierre (4:09.18) and Nikki Hiltz (4:05.87) won their heats. Twelve runners advance to the final on Monday. Julia Heymach of Stanford is the only collegiate athlete to advance to the final.

**Nikki Hiltz was the fastest time qualifier of the day in the women’s 1500m, securing her spot in the finals on Monday. Photo by Jay Bendlin**

In Hiltz’s post-race interview, when asked what they would do with their day off, they had a joke for the local crowd, saying “I’m going to go hike Spencer’s Butte! Just kidding.”

Hiltz wasn’t joking around when about the final on Monday though.

“I’m in the best shape of my life,” Hiltz said. “I think it’s going to take a sub-4 to make the team and you know with the workouts I’ve been doing with Mac [Mac Fleet, her coach], I feel ready.”

In the men’s 800m semifinal, Clayton Murphy won the first heat, running 1:46.26, and Bryce Hoppel won the second with a 1:46.00 finish. The top eight semifinalists advanced to Monday’s final.

“The track is unbelievably fast. The fans are unbelievably great,” Murphy said. “It feels like we’re back for track and field.”

Kendall Ellis (50.83)—followed closely by Allison Felix (51.01)—and Quanera Hayes (50.07) took away heat wins in the women’s 400m semis. The final will be contested on Sunday June 20th.

In the men’s 400m semifinal, Michael Cherry took the win in the first heat running 44.50, and Michael Norman ran 44.73 to win the second semi-final heat. The top eight finalists advanced to the final, which will be contested on Sunday June 20th.

**Garrett Scantling (left) embraces Harrison Willams (right) after the Decathlon 400m. Photo by Sarah Northrop**

Today marked the first day of competition for the men’s decathlon. The multi-sport event will be contested over days two and three of the trials. The athletes competed in 100m sprint, long jump, shot put, high jump and the 400m today. After today’s series of competition, Garrett Scantling leads the event with a total of 4,494 points. He is followed by Kyle Garland (4,424) and Zach Ziemek (4,409).

In the qualifying round of the men’s javelin, Mark Anthony Minichello (76.63), Curtis Thomposn (76.23) and Capers Williamson (75.94) led the top 12 competitors in the field to the finals, which will be contested on Monday.

Kenny Bednarek (10.07), Trayvon Bromell (9.84), Marvin Bracy-Williams (10.00) and Ronnie Baker (9.88) took the wins in the men’s 100m heats to advance to the semis, happening on day three of the trials. University of Oregon freshman Micah Williams advanced to the semifinals as well.

Twelve athletes advanced to the final in the men’s triple jump, led by Will Claye (16.85), Donald Scott (16.81) and Chris Benard (16.55), all of whom have the Olympic “A” standard. Twelve athletes also advanced in the qualifying round of the men’s pole vault. Eleven out of 12 of those competitors cleared 5.65m.