LOS ANGELES ― The inaugural Los Angeles Grand Prix concluded Saturday, as track and field athletes from around the world convened at UCLA’s Drake Stadium.
The event was touted as the most decorated group of track and field athletes competing in Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympics. Meet organizers are making a strategic investment as they hope the meet serves as a catalyst for the 2028 Olympic Games in the city.
“We see this as a long-term investment here in Los Angeles,” USA Track and Field CEO Max Siegel said. “We’re excited about coming back here next year.”
Multiple records were rewritten on the track and on the field, but the showcase concluded with a damper when Sha’Carri Richardson and Marie-Josee Ta Lou, the two top qualifiers in the women’s 100-meter final, scratched from the headline event.
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Here are the winners and losers from the Los Angeles Grand Prix:
WINNERS
Ryan Crouser sets another world record
USA’s Ryan Crouser is competing with himself in the men’s shot put. Crouser tossed 77 feet, 3 3/4 inches to break his own world record. The previous world record held by Crouser was 76-8 1/4 that he set in 2021.
“I’m really excited. It felt like I had a ton of power and I caught a big one,” Crouser said. “But there’s still a lot more there which is really exciting.”
Clayton Murphy
The American middle distance runner ran a season-best of 1:44.75 to win the men’s 800 meters.
“You can pretty much call that a preview to the USA (championships). It was a big statement for myself and my coach,” Murphy said. “We are in the right direction and there’s still a lot of meat on the bone, both tactically and training wise.”
Maggie Ewen
Ewen tossed a personal-best and a world-leading throw of 67-1 1/4 to win the women’s shot put. She told USA TODAY Sports that her throw served as validation that she’s in good form as this year’s world championships approach and with the Olympics next year.
“It feels great. There’s really no other way to put it,” Ewen said. “I don’t think it really changes how we been looking at the Olympics and how we’re looking at the world championships. It just kind of reinforces that we are doing the right things.”
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn
The defending Olympic champion from Puerto Rico proved she is still best 100-meter hurdler in the world. Camacho-Quinn led from start to finish in a loaded field to win the event with a world-leading time of 12.31.
American Keni Harrison captured silver, running a 12.35.
“For me, it was focusing on my start. Sometimes I fall asleep in the blocks and try to rely on the end part of my race. This year I’m mainly focusing on the first part. I feel like the end will take care of itself,” Camacho-Quinn said. “I’m happy for the time but I know I still have a lot of work to do.”
Mondo Duplantis
The Swedish pole vaulter and reining Olympic champion vaulted 19-4 3/4 to take the world lead.
LOSERS
Disappointing women’s 100-meter final
Sha’Carri Richardson is currently ranked No. 1 in the world in the women’s 100 meters. Richardson ran a 10.90 in the 100-meter semifinal to set a new stadium record, but it only lasted a few minutes until Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josee Ta Lou crossed the line at 10.88 in the next heat to establish a new stadium record.
The two were set up for a showdown in the 100-meter final on Saturday, but it never happened. Unfortunately, they both surprisingly scratched from the race. Richardson didn’t run due to muscle cramps, according to USA Track and Field. Ta Lou didn’t run for an undisclosed reason.
USA’s Morolake Akinosun won the event, crossing the finish line at 10.97.
“Track and field comes with distractions. You have to know how focus on yourself and focus on your race,” Akinosun said to USA TODAY Sports. “Right before the gun went off, I just took a second to center myself and focus.”
Kirani James gets caught down home stretch
James, of Grenada, raced down the home stretch toward the finish line in the lead in the 400m, but he was caught by Jamaica’s Sean Bailey. Bailey crossed the line with a personal-best time of 44.43 to get the victory. James finished second, running a season-best 44.50.
Men’s shot putters not named Ryan Crouser
Crouser dominated the event. The competition was for silver and bronze. New Zealand’s Tom Walsh finished second with a throw of 72-7. Crouser has separated himself from the the best shot putters in the world.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on Twitter @TheTylerDragon.
