Eight lessons from the 2021 USATF Golden Games!

Jodie Williams, 200m race B, win in 23.03, photo by Cortney White, USATF Infinity Golden Games.

This is 8 deep thoughts that this writer had on the Golden Games at Mt SAC. Photos by Cortney White.

Eight lessons from the 2021 USATF Golden Games!

1. Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek could be the story of the 200m for the next few years. It was a gutty, exciting race over the furlong at Hilmer Lodge Stadium yesterday.

In a close 200m, Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek battled, with Lyles taking the win, photo by Cortney White, USATF Infinity Golden Games.

2. The Women’s 200m shows that Gabby Thomas, Lynna Irby, and Jenn Pradinni are in the thick of the 200m battle! The big surprise is that Allyson Felix is more than back, having gone 22.26 in the 200m. Never bet against Allyson Felix!

Allyson Felix, second in the 200m in 22.26, photo by Cortney White, USATF Infinity Golden Games.

3. The depth of the meet was insane! Many events had 2-3 divisions due to the athletes wanting to compete!

Go! photo by Cortney White, USATF Infinity Golden Games.

4. The Men’s 1500m was a classic battle. Ollie Hoare led most of the way, with Justyn Knight on his shoulder, and huge PBs for many in the race.

Ollie Hoare won the 1500m in pb, 3:33.19, chased by Justyn Knight, 3:33:41, also in pb, photo by Cortney White, USATF Infinity Golden Games.

5. Ellie Purrier showed how amazingly fit that she is now. Her 1500m was an example of just how good this woman is, and her domination of the event is telling.

Ellie Purrier takes the 1500m in world leader, 3:58.36 pb, photo by Cortney White, USATF Infinity Golden Games.

6. Rai Benjamin sent a message heard loud and clear around the World. Be on your A-game in the 400m hurdles. Rai Benjamin went 47.13.

Rai Benjamin opens at a phenomenal 47.13, over 400m hurdles, breaking 44 year old meet record owned, until then, by Edwin Moses, 1976, 1984 Olympic gold medalist, by Cortney White, USATF Infinity Golden Games.

7. Shamier Little ran a brilliant 400m hurdles. Shamier’s focus on 400m speed is giving her speed and confidence in the hurdles.

Shamier Little opened at quick WL 53.65 for 400m hurdles. Shamier has a 49.91 pb this season at 400m flat, photo by Cortney White, USATF Infinity Golden Games.

8. DK Metcalf brought the interest of the non-running world back to athletics. I hope that the media and the federation can learn from that. While DK Metcalf ran 10.37 at 100m, 8th in his heat, he paid respect to track athletes and gave the sport some much needed interest by general sports fans!

DK Metcalf fights the good fights! photo by Cortney White, USATF Infinity Golden Games.

Author

Larry Eder
Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."
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