Track and Field's Elite Compete at 2026 USATF National Championships in New York City

The 2026 USA Track and Field Outdoor and Para National Championships bring together Olympic gold medalists and emerging talent at Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island, marking the first time New York City hosts the event since 1991. The multi-day competition airs live on NBC Sports, Peacock, and USATF.TV and features some of the sport's most accomplished athletes competing across sprint, distance, and field events.

Elite Field Assembled

Among the headliners are 2024 Olympic gold medalists Noah Lyles, Sha'Carri Richardson, and Tara Davis-Woodhall, alongside other recently crowned champions. Lyles enters both the 100-meter and 200-meter races, with a chance to capture his record sixth national title in the 200m. Richardson, a two-time world champion in the 100m, aims to become only the second woman since 2000 to claim three U.S. 100m crowns, following Carmelita Jeter's achievement.

Davis-Woodhall takes on a demanding schedule, competing in both the long jump—where she holds an 18-meet winning streak dating to 2024 and sits as the reigning Olympic and world champion—and the 100-meter hurdles. Her participation highlights the depth of preparation required at the national championship level. Meanwhile, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden defends her U.S. 200m title after winning consecutive world championships in the event.

Rising Stars and Para Champions

The championships showcase breakthrough talent alongside established names. Cooper Lutkenhaus, a 17-year-old, made history in March by becoming the youngest individual world champion in track and field history after winning the 800m at the World Indoor Championships. His progression represents the pipeline of emerging American distance talent.

On the Paralympic side, gold medalists from Paris 2024 compete across multiple distances and field events. Entrants include Daniel Romanchuk, who qualified for the 400m, 800m, 1500m, and 5000m races, and Hunter Woodhall, competing in the 100m and 400m sprints. The Para competition underscores the event's commitment to showcasing elite adaptive athletes alongside their Olympic counterparts.

Marquee Matchups

A notable rivalry resumes when Noah Lyles faces Kenny Bednarek in Friday's 100m final at 7:53 p.m. ET. The two athletes have an established history: Bednarek won the U.S. 100m title last year when Lyles competed only in the 200m, where Lyles narrowly defeated Bednarek by four hundredths of a second. Their competitive dynamic has drawn attention from track followers anticipating their head-to-head performance.