The 2023 USATF Outdoor Championships begin on Thursday from Eugene, Oregon. Looking at the start lists, there will be no shortage of drama as athletes try to finish in the top three and qualify for this year’s World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary. 

For full projections ahead of the meet, check out the FloTrack rankings which provide a top 15 in every event. During the meet, check out FloTrack for athlete interviews and a daily recap podcast after each day of action. 

Below is a preview of the men’s track events. Later this week we will analyze the women’s fields. 

Men’s 100m: Fred Kerley has a bye and will instead focus on qualifying in the 200m. That leaves plenty of question marks in the 100m where Kerley had been the one constant in 2023. 

The other two men who swept the podium with him in Eugene at last year’s World Athletics Championships (Marvin Bracy-Williams and Trayvon Bromell) have combined to break 10 seconds on only two occasions, both from Bracy-Williams. With their experience, they are certainly more than capable of turning it on at USAs, but the door looks open. 

Christian Coleman is 2-2 in his four 100m races this year with all four races coming against solid competition. Then, there are the collegians in Pjai Austin and Courtney Lindsey, who both ran 9.89 in Austin at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. 

Noah Lyles is doing the reverse of Kerley, racing the 100m because he has a bye in the 200m. Lyles has been under 10 seconds in all five of his 100m races this year. Three of them were wind-aided, but he’s also showing the consistency that isn’t present in many of the top 100m athletes in the world this year. Is this the year he makes the 100m team?

Men’s 200m: This is much more straightforward than the 100m. With no Lyles, Erriyon Knighton is the favorite. Behind him, Kenny Bednarek and Fred Kerley look to hold onto the spots that they held at last year’s meet. Michael Norman could be a factor if he’s healthy, as could collegians Courtney Lindsey and Robert Gregory.

USA 🇺🇸 is next. Tell someone to tell someone we in Oregon again. pic.twitter.com/uSHS4L866K

— Fred Kerley (@fkerley99) June 26, 2023

Men’s 400m: Perhaps the most wide open of all the running events. Michael Norman has the bye and won’t be running the 400m. This event could come down to collegians vs. professionals with Vernon Norwood and Bryce Deadmon representing the veterans and Ryan Willie, Justin Robinson and Elija Godwin heading up the NCAA contingent. 

But in a field this unpredictable, the winner (and especially the top three) could come from someone outside this group.

Men’s 800m: We got a good preview of this race at the NYC Grand Prix with Bryce Hoppel taking the win. Nobody has really separated themselves from the group, but if experience counts for anything in these championship settings then Hoppel, Clayton Murphy, Isaiah Harris and Isaiah Jewett should have an advantage. 

The same could be said for Brandon Miller, who is only 20-years-old, but made the U.S. team last year. The wild card is Will Sumner. Sumner looked great at the NCAA championships, negative splitting a 1:44.26 He came down to earth a bit in New York City, finishing in fifth place and running 1:46.79. But the fatigue he felt in New York is understandable after a big meet like the NCAA Championships and it’s easy to see him returning to form with some downtime before he toes the line in Eugene.

Men’s 1500m: Both domestically and worldwide, this event has been absolutely electric in 2023. 

Yared Nuguse is building off a terrific indoor season, Hobbs Kessler is running big personal bests and Cooper Teare and Cole Hocker look dangerous as well. 

Is there anyone outside of that group who could qualify? Since it’s a 1500m, absolutely? NCAA champions Joe Waskom and Nathan Green, along with pros Johnny Gregorek, Sam Prakel, Henry Wynee, Drew Hunter, Eric Holt and Casey Comber are all capable of landing in the top three. Former teammates Matthew Centrowitz and Craig Engles will try to recapture some of their old magic and squeeze onto the team. Both have run 3:36 this season.

Men’s 5000/10,000m: Grouping these together because the results of one will inevitably impact the other. Grant Fisher, Woody Kincaid, Joe Klecker, Paul Chelimo, Sean McGorty should form the lead pack on Thursday night in the 10,000m. On Sunday, that group will have an even tougher task when Abdihamid Nur, Emmanuel Bor and Cooper Teare get added to the mix.

Men’s 110m Hurdles: New pro Cordell Tinch will face his toughest test yet on the track when he tries to make a stacked U.S. team. Two-time world champion Grant Holloway has a bye, but is still entered. Regardless of whether he decides to run the final, this will be an incredibly tough field. Tinch just ran the world lead of 12.96. 

WORLD LEAD AND HUGE PB FOR GRANT HOLLOWAY IN THE 110M HURDLES ‼️‼️

With a 13.01, @Flaamingoo_ wins at adidas #ATLCityGames 🔥 In second place, Rob Dunning, an Atlanta local, also got a massive PB with 13.09! pic.twitter.com/F1r3dN5h1G

— adidas Atlanta City Games (@adidasATLGames) May 7, 2023

Daniel Roberts just won in New York with a time of 13.01. Devon Allen finished just behind Roberts in 13.04. The presence of Trey Cunningham, Jamal Britt and Freddie Crittenden III doesn’t leave any room for error. 

Men’s 400m Hurdles: Rai Benjamin hasn’t raced in two months, but is still the big favorite. He won both of his 400m hurdle races this year and look good in two open 400m races (including a 44.21 at the beginning of April). 

CJ Allen is a solid bet to make the team. Allen has already raced the event seven times this year and seemingly sets a PR every time he steps on the track. After those two, it’s harder to figure out. The third spot on the team should come from Trevor Bassitt (bronze at last year’s World Championships), Khallifah Rosser (5th at last year’s World Championships) or Chris Robinson (NCAA champion).

Men’s Steeplechase: With big names Evan Jager and Hillary Bor not able to compete, there are more possible contenders in play. Collegians Duncan Hamilton and Kenneth Rooks both put together historic NCAA seasons, with Rooks getting the win at the NCAA Championships. 

Anthony Rotich has the second-fastest seed time behind Hamilton (8:16.23 and 8:16.27) and placed fifth last year at USAs. Isaac Updike was fifth at the 2021 Olympic Trials. Benard Keter and Mason Ferlic has both made national teams and are reliable in big meets.