Olympic Standards, U.S. Trials Marks And More From The LA Grand Prix

After Day 1 at the LA Grand Prix, we saw a host of Olympic 'A' standards and qualifying marks heading into the U.S. Olympic Trials.

May 18, 2024 by Cory Mull

Olympic Standards, U.S. Trials Marks And More From The LA Grand Prix

Elle Purrier St. Pierre is on fire in 2024.

After winning a World Indoor title in the 3K in March, just a year after giving birth to her son, the 29-year-old has followed with tremendous form and on Friday registered an insane new personal record for the 5,000 meter distance, clocking an Olympic 'A' standard of 14:34.12 to win the event on the first day of the Los Angeles Grand Prix inside Drake Stadium.

That performance marked a 24-second improvement from her former best of 14:58.17.

May 17-18

2024 USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix

But it was hardly surprising. Over the course of 2024, St. Pierre has also logged personal bests in the mile (4:16.41) and 3K (8:20.87).

Her effort on Friday put her at fourth in the world and sixth all-time (time-wise) for a U.S athlete. She's also moved up the all-time U.S. rankings to fifth all-time, now only behind Alicia Monson, Shelby Houlihan, Karissa Schweizer and Elise Cranny.

Few are truly in better form right now, though.

St. Pierre, a national champion in 2021 over 1,500m, never trailed, taking out the first kilometer in 2:58.44 before hitting proceeding splits of 2:58.73, 2:57.34, 2:54.16 and 2:45.46.

She won by two seconds over Venezuela's Joselyn Brea, who was second in 14:36.59.

Kate Grace Races For The First Time In Nearly Three Years

There were Olympic 'A' standards hit, U.S. Olympic Trials qualifying times and an array of top efforts and big marks on the first day of the L.A. Grand Prix.

But how about this one?

Kate Grace's first race(s) in nearly three years.

The 2016 Olympian raced for the first time since 2021 on Friday in the 800m and 1,500m, handling those distances with class as she won her 800m 'D' section in 2:01.93 and finished fifth in the 1,500m 'C' section in 4:11.92.

While Grace, 35, was aiming for the U.S. Olympic Trials 'A' standard of 2:00.00 in the 800m, her performance placed her within the minimum qualifying standard and may still fall within the descending order list for the U.S. heading into the event in June.

A total of 36 women will comprise the first round of the 800m at the U.S. Trials.

Grace went on Instagram later and commented: "I was happy with it ..." she said. "...I though it was good work."

Ceili McCabe Hits Olympic Standard, Eighth-Best Steeple In The World

Canadian steeplechaser Ceili McCabe, 22, set a new national record with her Olympic 'A' standard time of 9:20.58.

The former West Virginia star turned it on over the last 1K, closing in 3:02.82 to pick off six competitors over the last two-and-a-half laps to win.

U.S. steepler Maddie Moreman was second in 9:21.98, while Kazakhstan's Norah Jeruto was third in 9:22.45.

McCabe's performance was eighth-best in the world over the 2024 season and a new Canadian record, passing the former mark of 9:22.40 last held by Genevieve Lalonde from the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, while Boreman clocked the second-best U.S. time over the current campaign and 10th-best in the world.

Eleven Men Register Sub-13 Minute Efforts In The 'A' 5,000 Meter Section

The mark of choice on Friday was 13:05, and that time set athletes up for an Olympic 'A' standard.

A total of 12 men hit that mark in the 'A' section, including Ethiopian's Selemon Barega and Berihu Aregawi, who went 1-2 in 12:51.60 and 12:52.09, respectively, while former NAU star Abdihamid Nur hit the mark in the 'B' section in 13:04.40 -- though he also went under 13:05 indoors this year, too.

Grant Fisher was the top athlete from the U.S., finishing fifth in the hot section in 12:53.30, nearly equaling his 12:51 from the indoor season in February.

Cooper Teare also hit the mark in 12:54.72, while Cole Hocker followed in 12:58.82. Drew Hunter, eyeing up an Olympic standard in the 'B' section, was just three seconds off, finishing in 13:08.57, though that was a PR by nine seconds.

Hobbs Kessler, Sammy Watson Score Wins In 800m 'B' Sections

Hobbs Kessler, 21 scored the top mark in the men's 'B' section of the 800m on Friday, hitting 1:45.07, which was a new personal best at the distance, an improvement on his PB of 1:45.80 from 2023. It was also his first race at the distance over 2024.

Sammy Watson followed on the women's side with a time of 2:00.73.

U.S. Field Athletes Secure Olympic Standards

Americans and internationals scattered across the field reaffirmed their Olympic standard marks.

Among them included Brooks Anderson, who won the hammer in 77.32 meters; Ukraine's Mykhaylo Kokhan, who claimed the men's hammer in 80.33m; Sandi Morris, who cleared 4.70m in the pole vault; Valarie Allman, who threw 67.93m in the discus; and Jamaica's Roje Stona, who won the discus in 66.93m.

When Are The U.S. Olympic Trials For Track And Field?

The 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials will take place in Eugene, Ore., at Hayward Field from June 21 to June 30.

When Are The Olympics 2024 In Paris?

The 2024 Olympic Games will take place in Paris, France, from July 26 to August 11.

The track & field portion of the competition will start on August 1 and finish on August 11.

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