Team USA takes 139 athletes to Budapest 23 World Championships
With 12 days to go before the world’s athletics event athletes take center stage, USATF has named a full roster of 139 athletes for the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23. The nine-day competition will take place from August 19-27 at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary.
Team USATF is coming off of a dominant showing at Oregon22, having won the first-ever World Athletics Team Trophy with 328 points and a historic total of 33 medals. Tallying 13 gold, nine silvers,
and 11 bronze across 22 events, American athletes certainly made their mark.
82 athletes from the Oregon22 team will return to the world stage, including 23 individual medalists - 10 of whom won gold. 63 members of the Budapest roster are Tokyo Olympians, and 22 were medalists.
Of the 139 athletes named, 10 are entered as wild cards, having won their event at Oregon22 or the Diamond League Final in Zurich, and 45 are making their Team USATF debut.
The entire men’s shot put podium from Oregon22 will return in Budapest, including world record holder and reigning world champion Ryan Crouser. With his world champion status earning him the bye, Team USATF will take four throwers in the event including Oregon22 silver medalist Joe Kovacs, bronze medalist Josh Awotunde, and Tokyo Olympian Payton Otterdahl.
Noah Lyles will attempt to be the first man to pull off a successful 1-2 double since Usain Bolt in 2015. With the youngest man on the team, 19-year-old bronze medalist Erriyon Knighton, and reigning silver medalist Kenny Bednarek by his side, another Oregon22 podium repeat could be in the works. First-time team member Courtney Lindsey could easily find himself in the mix, rounding out the men’s 200 quartet.
Katie Moon is the reigning Olympic and world champion in the women's pole vault and will have three-time silver medalist Sandi Morris and the youngest member of Team USATF, Washington high schooler Hana Moll, joining her on the runway along with Bridget Williams, who is making her international debut.
The fastest man in the world, Fred Kerley, will aim to defend his title in the 100 alongside a strong sprint roster. He’s joined by USATF champion Cravont Charleston, Doha champion Christian Coleman, and reigning 200 champion Noah Lyles with the first round scheduled for August 19.
Team USATF won two medals in the women's hammer for the first time in Championships history at Oregon22, led by champion Brooke Andersen. Bronze medalist Janee' Kassanavoid was the first Native American woman to win a World Championships medal, and the duo will have a powerful teammate in DeAnna Price, the world champion in 2019 and the American record holder. Making her first global championship appearance will be Jillian Shippee.
Reigning shot put world champion and winner of the 2022 Diamond League Final, Chase Ealey will attempt to defend her title with USATF champion Maggie Ewen on her heels. The pair is joined by Tokyo Olympian Adelaide Aquilla and first-time team qualifier Jalani Davis.
Michael Norman broke a nine-year drought in the men’s 400m with his gold in Eugene last year and looks to continue his winning ways in Budapest. 4x400m gold medalist Bryce Deadmon, mixed relay bronze medalist Vernon Norwood, and first-time world team member Quincy Hall will join Norman on the oval.
Olympic and world champion Athing Mu looks to continue her streak of international titles in her primary event. USATF champion Nia Akins will join her in the 800, alongside Tokyo bronze medalist Raevyn Rogers and USATF bronze medalist Kaela Edwards.
Two-time 110H world champion Grant Holloway will look for a successful three-peat in Budapest following Oregon and Doha's glory. Three-time USATF champion Daniel Roberts, breakout star Cordell Tinch, and NACAC champion Freddie Crittenden will join him in the short hurdles, racing in the heats on August 20.
Olympic champion and world bronze medalist Valarie Allman earned a bye in the women’s discus with her Diamond League Final trophy in Zurich. Coming off of a major personal best in Eugene, Lagi Tausaga-Collins will join Allman and first-time team member Elena Bruckner in the ring on the second day of competition. Veronica Fraley, an Oregon22 team member, rounds out the U.S. contingent.
“Coming off of such an incredible showing at Oregon22, Team USATF is primed for success in Budapest,” said USATF CEO Max Siegel. “We’ve watched and supported our athletes on their journey to gold all season long - from the Throws Festival in Tucson, our Grand Prix events in Bermuda, Los Angeles, and New York, the 2023 Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships, on the international circuit and more. We’re thrilled to see each and every athlete on this team put the pieces together as we head to Budapest to defend our Team Trophy.”
