Raevyn Rogers eyes 800 title on Day 4 of USATF Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field
Raevyn Rogers has been focused on self-care as she prepares to make her third-straight World Athletics Championships team.
The former Oregon star has leaned into her faith, listened to inspirational podcasts and attempted to keep her mind at peace with her season reaching its most important moment.
Sunday, in the final of the women’s 800 meters on the last day of the U.S. Track & Field Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field, the accomplished veteran will attempt to prove she still is on top of her game.
“I’ve been practicing being present and just living in the moment and enjoying all of today and nothing about tomorrow,” Rogers said Friday after her semifinal race.
A two-time global medalist who won silver during the 2019 world championships and bronze at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Rogers will be lining up in a deeply competitive field that doesn’t include reigning world and Olympic champion Athing Mu, who has an automatic bye into the race at the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
All eight finalists ran between 2:00.02 and 2:00.85 during the semifinals. Rogers has the second-best personal record in the field at 1:56.81 to Ajee Wilson, who has a PR of 1:55.61.
“You have to be able to handle that pace,” Rogers said. “The 800 is not getting any easier, it’s not getting any slower, it can be strategic all you want but you still have to be able to run.”
Other notable events to watch on Sunday
Women’s hammer final, 4 p.m. — This loaded field includes the last two world champions in Brooke Anderson (2022) and DeAnna Price (2019) as well as 2022 bronze medalist Janee Kassanavoid. Anderson owns the world-leading mark this season at 263 feet, which is third in the world all-time. Price is also the American record holder and No. 2 all-time in the world with her PR of 263-6. Oregon’s Shelby Moran is also entered.
Men’s shot put final, 6:15 p.m. — The U.S. men swept the podium at Oregon22 and all three medalists are entered in Sunday’s competition. Leading the way is the incomparable Ryan Crouser, the reigning world champ who reset his world record in May with a throw of 77-3¾. Joe Kovacs is a two-time world champion who won silver last summer. Josh Awotunde was the bronze medalist last summer.
Men’s 5,000 final, 6:50 p.m. — Predicting a top-three from this group is a difficult task. Grant Fisher is the reigning champion and American record holder. Paul Chelimo won Olympic silver in 2016 and bronze in 2021. Woody Kincaid is coming off an impressive win in Thursday’s 10,000 final and was a 5,000 qualifier for Oregon22. There’s also Joe Klecker — the runner-up in the 10,000 Thursday — and 2022 U.S. bronze medalist Abdihamid Nur and former Oregon great Cooper Teare.
Women’s 5,000 final, 7:29 p.m. — The top-three finishers from Thursday’s 10,000 final are entered in winner Elise Cranny, runner-up Alicia Monson and third-place Natosha Rogers. Other top runners entered are Oregon22 qualifier Karissa Schweizer, Josette Andrews and Emily Infeld.
Other finals on Sunday — Women’s pole vault, 5 p.m.; women’s discus, 5 p.m.; men’s high jump, 5:05 p.m.; women’s long jump, 5:40 p.m.; men’s 800, 6:26; women’s 400 hurdles, 6:34 p.m.; men’s 400 hurdles, 6:42 p.m.; women’s 200, 7:10 p.m.; men’s 200, 7:20 p.m.; men’s 110 hurdles, 7:53 p.m.
Follow Chris Hansen on Twitter @chansen_RG or email at chansen@registerguard.com. For more sports coverage, visit registerguard.com. Want more stories like this? Subscribe to get unlimited access and support local journalism.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: What to watch Sunday at the USATF Outdoor Championships
