Melissa Jefferson wins the 200m at the US Championships (© Getty Images)
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden came within 0.01 of her lifetime best to produce the standout performance on the final day of the US Championships in New York on Sunday (26).
The world champion powered away from the field in the women’s 200m final, winning in a season’s best of 21.69 (1.0m/s), just 0.01 shy of the time she ran to win the world title in Tokyo last year. Cambrea Sturgis finished a distant second at Icahn Stadium in 22.22.
There was a surprise in the men’s 200m as Garrett Kaalund won the title in 20.04. Four-time world champion Noah Lyles, who had won the 100m in a world-leading 9.79 two days earlier, pulled up with cramp during the final, ending a winning streak over 200m that had stretched back to July 2025.
World indoor champion Cooper Lutkenhaus produced another commanding performance to win the men’s 800m in 1:43.48. The 17-year-old remained patient during the opening lap before moving to the front with just over 200 metres remaining. He quickly opened a decisive gap and went on to win by more than a second.
World champion Cordell Tinch was pushed all the way in an exceptionally close men’s 110m hurdles final. Tinch and Bradley Franklin both crossed the line in 13.00, a season’s best for Tinch and a PB for Franklin. Just four thousandths of a second separated them, with Tinch awarded the victory.
The two 400m hurdles finals were more clear-cut. Olympic silver medallist Anna Cockrell won the women’s event in a season’s best of 52.94, while Christopher Robinson dominated the men’s race in 47.61.
Alyssa Jones claimed the women’s long jump title in dramatic circumstances. Jones led with 6.96m when Olympic and world champion Tara Davis-Woodhall appeared to have snatched victory with a final-round leap of 7.16m.
The effort was initially measured but was later ruled a foul, leaving Jones as the champion and ending Davis-Woodhall’s unbeaten run, which had dated back to the 2023 World Championships.
World and Olympic discus champion Valarie Sion returned to winning ways with a 69.54m throw. A week after Cierra Jackson defeated her at the London Diamond League the previous weekend, Sion gained revenge in New York, with Jackson finishing second with 67.40m.
World indoor silver medallist Jordan Geist won his first US shot put title with 22.32m. Tripp Piperi was second with 21.91m.
