US Olympic Trials: Top 5 male track and field athletes to watch out for

The US Olympic Trials are slated to be held from 18th June 2021. The best track and field athletes from the country will compete against each other across different athletic events. The top 3 in every event will qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.

The 24th edition of the U.S. Olympic Trials is set to take place at Hayward Field, University of Oregon. It will be spread across 9 days, from 18th June to 27th June 2021.

The US Olympic Trials also serve as the US National Championship for these events. So the winners will not only qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, but will be crowned national champions in their respective sports.

The men's events will be the ones to watch out for at the US Olympic Trials, which comprise of 20 different athletic events. Several stars have emerged in recent years who have made headlines at major international events. These events include the Diamond League and the World Championships.

Over the decades, the USA has produced many great male Olympians who dominated the track and field events at the Olympics. The likes of Jesse Owens, Michael Johnson, Carl Lewis, Edwin Moses and Justin Gatlin have all starred in US Olympic Trials.

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The top contenders at the US Olympic Trials for the men's events

5. Donavan Brazier:

Donavan Brazier

24-year-old Donavan Brazier is already a favorite to win the 800m sprint at the U.S. Olympic Trials. This will be his second appearance at the event. In the last edition of the US Olympic Trials, he finished 19th and hence couldn't qualify for the Rio Olympics.

Donavan Brazier clinched the world title in the 800m sprint at the 2019 World Championships and holds the national record in 800m (1:42:34s). According to many US track and field experts, he is seen as the hope to end the USA's 49 years 800m Olympic title drought.

Donavan will look to qualify for his debut at the Tokyo Olympics.

4. Sam Kendricks

Sam Kendricks

Sam Kendricks is definitely one to watch out for in the men's pole vault at the US Olympic Trials. He is regarded as one of the greatest pole vaulters in history with a record of 6.06m, the fourth highest ever recorded.

Sam Kendricks is a Rio Olympic bronze-medalist and also has two world championship titles under his belt. He is one of six American pole vaulters to breach the 6-meter mark in the event. Sam Kendricks will look to make the cut for the Tokyo Olympics.

3. Michael Norman

Michael Norman

Michael Norman is seen as the favorite to win the 400m sprint at the US Olympic Trials. In May, he set a world record timing of 44.27s in the 400m event at the Diamond League in Doha.

Michael Norman has been top-notch with his performances over the last 3-4 years. He first broke into the limelight when he defeated reigning national champion Justin Gatlin in the 400m semi-final at the 2016 US Olympic Trials. In the final, he finished 5th and thus failed to qualify for the Rio Olympics.

Michael Norman will make his second appearance at the US Olympic Trials to qualify for his debut at the Tokyo Olympics.

2. Rai Benjamin

Rai Benjamin

23-year-old American hurdler Rai Benjamin is a hot favorite to win the 400m Hurdles at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

Rai Benjamin won a Silver Medal in the 400m Hurdles by clocking 47.66s at the 2019 World Championship. At the USATF Golden Games last month, he shattered Edwin Moses' Hilmer Lodge Stadium record of 47.89s in 1989, clocking 47.13s.

Rai Benjamin also won the 400m Hurdles with a timing of 47.38s at the 2021 Doha Diamond League.

Rai Benjamin will look to make the cut for the Tokyo Olympics at the US Olympic Trials. He is considered one of the favorites to win the 400m hrdles Olympic title.

1. Noah Lyles:

Noah Lyles

Young American 200m sprint star Noah Lyles will head to the US Olympic Trials as the favorite to win the race. He is well-known for his blazing speed in the 200-meter sprint.

Noah Lyles is the defending 200m world champion and also has three Diamond League titles under his belt. At the 2019 World Championships, he didn't compete in the 100m sprint in order to focus on 200m. Noah Lyles is the fourth fastest 200m runner in the world with the second-best national record of 19.50s.

Noah Lyles will look to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics at the US Olympic Trials. He is considered one of the top 200m sprinters to win Olympic Gold.