The US Track and Field Championships were one for the books, with these five athletes stealing the show.
The 2025 USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, over the weekend were a spectacle of what fans should expect at the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, in September.
Every athlete who finished in the top three and had the qualifying time automatically made the cut, but a select few stood out, not just for their victories, but for the profound impact of their performances.
Some redefined their careers with their performances, while others solidified their legacies and staged triumphant comebacks.
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In this article, Pulse Sports Kenya looks at the five biggest winners from the championships, whose stories and successes will be remembered long after the final gun.
1) Melissa Jefferson-Wooden
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden took every chance at the 2025 USATF Championships, and her performance was nothing short of impressive.
Already a respected member of the Team USA gold-medal-winning 4x100m relay team at the Paris Olympic Games and an Olympic individual bronze medallist, Jefferson-Wooden elevated her status to that of an undisputed sprinting titan.
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden achieved the coveted sprint double, winning both the 100m and 200m titles in dominant fashion.
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Her victory in the 100m propelled her to clock a world-leading and personal best time of 10.65 seconds, a mark that ranks as the fifth-fastest in the history of the event.
This victory was a powerful statement, and the fact that she has also been unbeaten in the 100m all season, the World Championships will definitely be the ultimate test.
In the 200m final, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden proved her versatility and stamina by winning with another personal-best time of 21.84 seconds.
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She triumphed over Anavia Battle and reigning Olympic 200m champion Gabby Thomas, solidifying her position as the premier female sprinter in the United States.
2) Anavia Battle
Anavia Battle
Anavia Battle
For years, Anavia Battle has been a name recognised by dedicated track and field fans, but her performance in Eugene propelled her to a new level of recognition.
While finishing second to Melissa Jefferson-Wooden in the 200m final, Anavia Battle’s run was a career-defining moment.
She posted a remarkable time of 22.13 seconds, a significant personal best that secured her spot on the World Championships team.
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A 2020 Olympian, Anavia Battle has consistently been on the cusp of greatness, a perennial contender in the American sprinting scene.
She was able to not only secure a second-place finish but also run faster than the reigning Olympic champion Gabby Thomas, which is a major confidence booster heading into the world championships.
Her performance at the US Championships signifies her readiness to contend for medals on the global stage and establishes her as a legitimate threat in the women’s 200m.
3) Robert Gregory
The men’s 200m final was a showcase of pure speed and raw talent, and one of the brightest stars to emerge was Robert Gregory.
A standout collegiate athlete from the University of Florida, Robert Gregory oozed class. While he may not have won the national title, his runner-up finish was a major statement.
Robert Gregory’s time of 20.08 seconds was not only a personal best but also demonstrated his ability to compete with the very best professional sprinters in the nation.
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This result is particularly impressive considering his relatively recent transition from the collegiate to the professional circuit.
He has been a consistent performer at the NCAA level, but this performance at the USATF Championships proves he belongs among the elite seniors. The race was won by Noah Lyles, who stared down at Kenny Bednarek as he crossed the finish line.
4) Donavan Brazier
Donavan Brazier, the 2019 world champion in the 800m, had been sidelined for nearly three years due to a series of debilitating injuries.
His return to the track was a slow process, filled with setbacks and uncertainty, but at the 2025 USATF Championships, he completed his comeback in the most spectacular fashion imaginable.
Donovan Brazier won the men’s 800m national title with a new personal best and a world-class time of 1:42.16.
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The race was a masterclass in strategic running, as he navigated a fiercely competitive final that saw six athletes set personal bests.
His journey from a prolonged injury layoff to the top of the podium is a powerful narrative of perseverance. He now heads to the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, in September, where he intends to silence the likes of Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Marco Arop.
5) Jonah Koech
The men’s 1500m final at the USATF Championships was a race filled with drama, and the one who emerged as the champion was the unlikeliest of heroes, Jonah Koech.
With a field featuring some of the fastest Americans in history, including Olympic champion Cole Hocker, Jonah Koech was considered an underdog.
However, he defied all odds and ran a brilliant tactical race, staying patient in the pack before unleashing a devastating kick in the final 200 meters.
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Jonah Koech, a former 800m specialist, had only recently transitioned to the 1500m. His decision to move up in distance proved to be a stroke of genius.
He crossed the finish line in a blistering time of 3:30.17, a personal best that now makes him the seventh-fastest American of all time in the event.
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