Maine Athletes Set for US Outdoor Championship


Maine Athletes Set for US Outdoor Championship

The 2019 Toyota USATF National Championship is set for Des Moines, Iowa July 25-28th. Athletes will be competing for a spot in the IAAF World Championship to be held later this summer in Doha, Qatar as well as prize money.


Kate Hall -  (Long Jump)  Hall is currently #4 ranked in the US in 2019 with a professional best of 22-3 which she jumped in June at the Adidas Boost Boston Games. Kate has been competing in Europe where she competed twice winning in France on July 2nd (6.78m) & Italy on July 9th (6.52m).

Ben True - (5000m) True has raced sparingly in his build-up to USA's. He enters as the #2 ranked in 2019 from his 13:09.81 on June 6th in the Rome Diamond League meet. True is also 4th ranked at 10k but doesn't have worlds standard so has opted for the 5k. He ran a 7:40.49 for 3000m last time out at the Bislett Games on June 13th.


Riley Masters - (5000m) Masters has only race twice so far in 2019, both times 5k. He opened his season with a 13:39.52 at the Portland Track Festival back on June 9th. He showed his fitness is trending in the right direction as he clocked 13:29.50 at the Sunset Tour in Azua, CA on July 9th. Masters will need a sub 13:22.50 effort as he doesn't have the World Championship standrard.


Rachel Schneider - (5000m) Schneider has shown great range so far this season. She enters USA's as #4 ranked in US with her personal best of 15:06.71 that she ran on May 16th. Rachel had a few injury issues but showed great fitness in the Monaco Diamond League on July 12th, where she ran the 6th fastest mile ever by an American women with her 4:20.91. That type of leg speed could pay off in a big way given how championship distance races are usually run.

Steven Smith - (10k Racewalk) - The former South Portland standout racewalker has continued to improve at the next level.  He qualifed for USA's with a 44:37.07 effort at the NACAC U23 Championship. In May at the NAIA Nationals he was the runner-up in the 5k with a 22:55.02 effort.

Isaiah Harris - (800m) Harris was injured all fall & winter, but is healthy now. He will be a bit of an underdog heading into USA's but don't count him out. He has competed four times outdoors, opening in 1:49.49 back on May 31st. That was followed up by a 1:50.05 effort at the Adrian Martinez meet in MA on June 13th. He bounced back in a big way the next time running 1:46.61 to finish second at Princeton on June 30th. Last time out on July 13th he clocked his fastest time of the season with a 1:46.56 for 5th in the Eastern Track League final. Isaiah will have to ensure he runs faster than the 1:45.80 worlds qualifying standard.