The action along with the weather heated up on the third day of the USATF Outdoor Championships Saturday in Eugene, Ore., with jaw-dropping finals in every event from the women's 100m hurdles to the men's 1500m.

Here are some of the best moments from Hayward Field:
 

6. David Verberg Takes Down LaShawn Merritt, Bryshon Nellum Gets In Through Merritt’s Bye

World Indoor finalist David Verburg made a big statement at Hayward Field Saturday with a killer kick to the finish against defending World Champion LaShawn Merritt. Coming into the homestretch, Verburg finished alongside Merritt with just .03 seconds separating him from Merritt who was just edged out in 44.66. LSU’s Vernon Norwood was able to close for third and Bryshon Nellum crossed the line for fourth. Despite finishing fourth, Nellum is able to qualify for the World Championships because of Merritt’s status as the defending World Champion. 

5. Allyson Felix’s Huge kick to Take Down Natasha Hastings

Defending Olympic Champion Allyson Felix mustered up a crowd-roaring effort in the women’s 400m with a kick to take down Natasha Hastings at the line. Felix finished in 50.19 and Hastings held on for second in 50.25. The performance was Felix’s 10th U.S. Championship of her career and the mark was just off of her season’s best of 50.05, which she clocked at the Pre Classic. Former Oregon Duck Phyllis Francis closed for third place overall in 50.67, which is a season’s best. 

4. Dawn Harper Nelson Wins 100m Hurdles, Jasmin Stowers Fails To Make World Team

2012 Olympic Silver Medalist Dawn Harper lit up the crowd on the homestretch after taking the U.S. title in the 100m hurdles in a winning time of 12.55 (-0.1). Harper-Nelson celebrated in her classic excited style with a back-flip on the corner of the track. 

The biggest surprise from the race was the fact that former world leader Jasmin Stowers failed to qualify for the World Championships squad headed to Beijing. Stowers finished in fifth-place overall, behind Queen Harrison and Sharika Nelvis who were fourth and third, respectively. 

 

3. Bershawn Jackson Wins Fifth U.S. Title in 400m Hurdles

Bershawn “Batman” Jackson flew his way to a dominating win in the men’s 400m hurdles, taking the victory in 48.29 for his fifth national title of his career. The three-time World Champion will be joined by Johnny Dutch and Kerron Clement at the World Championships in Beijing in August. 

 

2. Emma Coburn Breaks U.S. Meet Record and Wins Fourth National Title

The four-time national champion did not fail to disappoint as she claimed the U.S. title in the women’s steeplechase in a new meet record time of 9:15. Coburn was followed by Stephanie Garcia as the runner-up and Colleen Quigley for third overall, both punching their tickets to the World Championships. The performance marks personal bests for both Garcia and Quigley who finished in 9:23 and 9:24, respectively. This will be both Garcia and Quigley’s first opportunity to compete at the World Championships. 

Beijing Bound! So happy to win my 4th U.S. Championship today. Thank you everyone for the support 🇺🇸 🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/5ZKmo4S7bH

— emma coburn (@emmajcoburn) June 28, 2015

One of the most exciting parts of the race took place in the final two laps where former Florida State standout Quigley and Michigan State’s Leah O’Connor entered into a battle for third place heading into the final moments of the race. It was a repeat of what took place at the NCAA Championships just weeks prior where Quigley and O’Connor battled for an NCAA title in the final 400m. Unfortunately, O’Connor fell off of the final water barrier, leaving Quigley to sprint her way to a third-place finish overall. 

Bell lap battle for third! #USATFoutdoors pic.twitter.com/X8pBzqrVIp

— FloTrack (@FloTrack) June 27, 2015

1. Matt Centrowitz Wins Third U.S. Outdoor Title in 1500m, Photo Finish for Second and Third Between Robby Andrews, Leo Manzano and Ben Blankenship

The Nike Oregon Project star claimed his third U.S. title in style with a finger gun move at the finish line, crossing the tape in 3:37 for a roaring crowd at Hayward Field. The 2013 World Championships silver medalist threw down a blazing fast 51.95 seconds for the final 400m to claim the victory. 
 

The real battle, however, was between Robby Andrews, Leo Manzano and Ben Blankenship who kicked through the last 100m for a photo finish to cross the line. 

 

Andrews threw down the most dramatic kick of the three, as the 2011 NCAA Champion came from seventh-place at the final 100m to claim a runner-up finish in 3:38 and his first senior World Championship berth.
 

Olympic silver medalist Leo Manzano claimed the third and final spot and Blankenship was left out in fourth by just 0.01. 

Photo finish #usatfoutdoors pic.twitter.com/rYH2lAEybn

— FloTrack (@FloTrack) June 27, 2015

NOTE: Although Andrews and Manzano finished in the top three, the two athletes have not run the World “A” standard mark to qualify for the World Championships this year. They will have to attempt faster marks prior to the World Championships in order to be considered to run for Team USA.