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Abby Steiner, Daniel Roberts win U.S. national championships, qualify for worlds

Abby Steiner concluded her collegiate career as a 15-time All-American including 11 first-team honors, and a four-time SEC champion.

The University of Kentucky’s big weekend at the U.S. track and field championships continued with two more national titles on the final day of the event Sunday in Eugene, Oregon.

Abby Steiner, who set a college record in the 200 at this year’s NCAA championships, won the event in 21.77. And former UK standout Daniel Roberts won the men’s 110-meter hurdles in 13:03.

In total, six Wildcats won U.S. championships this weekend, also including Andrew Evans (discus), Keni Harrison (100-meter hurdles), Sydney McLaughlin (400-meter hurdles) and Jordan Anthony (under-20 200 meters).

Steiner’s time was a new collegiate best and the sixth-fastest in American history. She qualified for next month’s world championships, which will also be held in Eugene. It will be the first time that the world championships will be held on American soil.

“(This means) everything. Coming off a collegiate season, a lot of people want to put limitations on you, that you’re going to be burnt out, but me and my coach just trusted the process and I couldn’t be more excited,” Steiner said right after the race.

Steiner’s effort was the world’s leading time this year until Shericka Jackson ran 21.55 to win at the Jamaica championships later Sunday.

Roberts, a 2020 Tokyo Olympian, won the 110 hurdles title with a season-best 13.03 to qualify for worlds. It was his second U.S. title in the event after winning in 2019.

Also Sunday, Noah Lyles pulled in front of teenage sensation Erriyon Knighton at the finish to win the men’s 200 meters.

“I do what it takes to win,” proclaimed Lyles, who cheekily pointed to Knighton as he hit the tape in 19.67 seconds.

Lyles won the 200 at the 2019 world championships in Doha and the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics last summer. He’ll be challenged again by Knighton in the worlds next month in Eugene.

“Job not finished,” said Knighton, just 18.

Olympic gold medalist Athing Mu was challenged the last 100 meters by Ajee Wilson, but pushed to finish first in the 800 in 1:57.16.

“It was a fast field, we were all together kind of throughout the whole race. I felt like we’d still be together the last 100, I just wanted to try my best to finish strong,” Mu said. “Ajee was right on me, I had to push a little harder to get to the line.”

Sha’Carri Richardson did not qualify for Sunday’s 200 finals, her only remaining chance to make the U.S. team for the worlds. Her time in the semifinal, 22.47 seconds, put her out of contention. She did not comment to reporters afterward.

Richardson also failed to make the field for Friday’s 100 meter finals, which was won by Melissa Jefferson of Coastal Carolina. Richardson’s failure to qualify for the finals in either race was something of a surprise, given her form at recent meets.

Bryce Hoppel made his second straight U.S. team for worlds in the 800, finishing in 1:44.60. He was followed by Jonah Kowech, who achieved the standard with his finish, and Brandon Miller, who threw himself over the line to secure third.

“I just wanted it so much,” Miller said.

Rai Benjamin won the 400 hurdles in 1:44.60, best in the world this season. Benjamin was coming off a bout with COVID-19 that drained his energy.

“This weekend was a lot on me, I’m kind of banged up, obviously, but I’m just happy to come out and get the win today. Going to worlds,” Benjamin said.

Emma Coburn won her 10th national title in the steeplechase, finishing in a season-best 9:10.63.

Chase Ealey won the shot put at a meet-record 67 feet, 3 1/2 inches (20.51 meters). Elise Cranny won the national title in the 5,000.

On the men’s side, Grant Fisher won the 5,000 in a meet-record 13:03.86. Donald Scott won the title in the triple jump, while Shelby McEwen won the high jump and Ethan Dobbs won the javelin.

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