The 2026 USA Track and Field Outdoor and Para National Championships are set to deliver four days of thrilling competition as America’s biggest athletics stars battle for national titles at Icahn Stadium in New York City from July 23 to July 26. The championships return to New York for the first time in 35 years and also mark the 150th anniversary of the first U.S. national track and field championships, making this year’s event particularly historic.
Leading the star-studded lineup is Olympic champion Noah Lyles, who will once again be one of the biggest attractions in the men’s sprint events. Lyles enters the championships after another outstanding season and is expected to challenge for the men’s 200m title while also competing in the 100m. His performances will be closely watched as he continues building momentum ahead of the next major international competitions.
On the women’s side, Sha’Carri Richardson returns to the national stage aiming to reaffirm her place among the world’s fastest sprinters. The 2023 world 100m champion faces stiff competition from reigning world champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, whose sensational 2025 campaign established her as one of the dominant forces in women’s sprinting. Jefferson-Wooden captured world titles in the 100m and 200m before helping the United States secure relay gold, making her one of the favorites once again.
Fans will also have plenty of other elite athletes to follow throughout the championships. Olympic and world champions including Rai Benjamin, Tara Davis-Woodhall, Quincy Hall, Chase Jackson, Cordell Tinch and Cooper Lutkenhaus headline a deep American squad that promises exciting contests across the track and field events. Para athletics stars will also compete alongside the able-bodied championships, continuing the integrated format introduced in recent years.
The competition begins on Thursday, July 23, with opening-round heats in the men’s and women’s 100m, 400m, 800m and 1500m, as well as the men’s and women’s 10,000m finals. Friday features the 100m semi-finals before the highly anticipated men’s and women’s 100m finals later in the evening. Saturday shifts attention to the opening rounds of the 200m, the women’s 400m final, both 1500m finals and the men’s and women’s 3000m steeplechase finals. The championships conclude on Sunday with the 800m finals, 400m hurdles finals, 5,000m finals and the eagerly awaited men’s and women’s 200m finals.
Fans can follow every moment of the championships through extensive live coverage. Peacock and USATF.TV will stream multiple sessions across all four days, while NBCSN will broadcast Friday evening’s action. NBC will provide live television coverage of the final two days, ensuring viewers can watch many of the championship races live. USATF.TV will also offer dedicated live streams of every field event throughout the competition.
With national pride, championship medals and valuable momentum on the line, the 2026 USA Track and Field Championships promise world-class performances from some of the sport’s biggest names. From Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson to Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and a host of Olympic champions, fans are in for one of the most exciting weekends on the athletics calendar.
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