McLaughlin-Levrone, Russell Book World Championship Eartths with American tests

Olympic champions Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Masai Russell produced convincing victories with American essays in Oregon to hit their tickets for the world athletics championships on Saturday.

McLaughlin-Levrone, the double Olympic champion of hedges and the ordin Golden Girl of American Track, stormed the victory in the 400m flat as it targets a new world title in Tokyo in September.

Russell, the 100m obstacle Olympic champion, was just as impressive, with a flawless performance winning the victory in 12.22 seconds to the Hayward Field in Eugene.

But while the gold medalists from the Paris McLaughlin-Levrone and Russell Olympic Games gave birth, there was an upheaval in the 1500 male meters, where Olympic Champion Cole Hocker finished third.

McLaughlin-Levrone pointed out that she could well be looking for gold in Tokyo after exploding in victory in 48.90 seconds, taking the band before Isabella Whittaker (49.59 seconds) and Aaliyah Butler in 49.91sec.

“I felt like it was the year when I wanted to get out of the box and push myself really in a different way,” said McLaughlin-Levrone about his decision to go to 400m.

“Obviously, it’s uncomfortable, but I wanted to get involved and I am determined. I’m just excited to see where I can push myself,” she told AFP.

Russell, who won a major title with gold in Paris last year, will be the woman to beat in Tokyo in the proofs on Saturday.

The 25 -year -old performed perfectly to go home ahead of Grace Stark (12.31) and Alaysha Johnson (12.36).

Russell started this season in the form of first order this season, recording an American record of 12.17 seconds in May before an ankle injury threatens to derail his season.

However, she looked at her best in Saturday victory.

“I could have closed my season two months ago when I couldn’t walk,” said Russell. “But I said to myself” that’s the goal. “”

“Winning the Olympic Games put a little more pressure on me. Because I think I have a standard to defend. People expect something from the reigning Olympic champion.”

– upset hocker –

An exciting battle in the 1500 male meters saw the Olympic Hocker champion headed by Jonah Koech, of Kenyan origin.

Hocker found himself by boxing with 200 to travel, and despite a strong finishing kick was unable to devote Koech and Ethan Strand, second.

Koech won in a time of 3 minutes 30.17 seconds, ahead of Stand in 3: 30.25. Hocker finished third in 3: 30.37.

“Winning was not the number one priority today, but I’m not going to lie – it always stinks a little not to do it,” said Hocker. “I think that if today was a global final, I would have run this race very differently.

“At the back of my head today, above all, the victory above was to move on and get the top three.”

Elsewhere on Saturday, the 400m Olympic champion Hubs Rai Benjamin placed in the Sunday’s final with a comfortable victory in the sleeves.

Benjamin never looked in danger on the way to gaining heat in 47.45 seconds, the best qualification time.

In the male 400m, Jacory Patterson qualified for Tokyo with a victory in 44.16 seconds, the last important step in his fairy tale trip to the elite sprint.

The 25 -year -old has juggled his sports career with a work working on a quarter of loading work of trucks for UPS until recently, working his latest quarter of work in June.

“I’m waiting for someone to pluck me,” said Patterson afterwards. “I don’t know, it looks like a dream.”

RCW / BB