Storylines to watch for at USATF Championships

This weekend is the Canadian and American World Championship Trials. You can find our predictions for the Canadian event here, but below are some storylines to watch for at the American meet.

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Will Allyson Felix make the Worlds 400m?

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Allyson Felix hasn’t raced since 2018, but she’s lining up this weekend to race the 400m in hopes of making the World Championship team. She’s coming back from having a baby, and looking to stand on that American podium again.

Heats: Thursday, 9:12 p.m. ET

Semi finals: Friday, 8:56 p.m. ET

Finals: Saturday, 5:34 p.m. ET

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The women’s steeple is jam-packed with talent

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Emma Coburn is a seven-time national champion, but Courtney Frerichs is the American record-holder. They’re battling for the national title with several women close behind, including NCAA champion Allie Ostrander and 2016 Olympian Colleen Quigley.

Heats: Friday, 6:57 p.m. ET

Finals: Sunday, 8:09 p.m. ET

Women’s 1,500m: Shelby Houlihan versus Jenny Simpson

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The women’s 1,500m will see the 2018 champion (Houlihan) go up against one of the best middle-distance runners in American history (Simpson), and it’s far from obvious who the winner will be. Simpson’s had a better 2019 outdoor season thus far, but Houlihan is a killer championship racer.

Heats: Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET

Finals: Saturday, 5:42 p.m. ET

Men’s 5,000m: Chelimo versus everyone else

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Paul Chelimo has a realistic shot at a World Championship medal, and he’s a little ahead of the rest of the for this weekend’s 5,000m–it’s Chelimo’s to lose. But interestingly, Drew Hunter is in the race, and while he doesn’t have world standard yet, he’s shown to come up big at championship meets, winning the USATF 2-mile indoors from the slow heat this past winter.

Final: Sunday, 8:23 p.m. ET

The event is streaming on flotrack.org and the schedule and heat sheets can be found here.