LOS ANGELES ― The inaugural Los Angeles Grand Prix concluded Saturday, as track and field athletes from around the world convened at UCLA’s Drake Stadium.
The event was touted as the most decorated group of track and field athletes competing in Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympics. Meet organizers are making a strategic investment as they hope the meet serves as a catalyst for the 2028 Olympic Games in the city.
“We see this as a long-term investment here in Los Angeles,” USA Track and Field CEO Max Siegel said. “We’re excited about coming back here next year.”
Multiple records were rewritten on the track and on the field, but the showcase concluded with a damper when Sha’Carri Richardson and Marie-Josee Ta Lou, the two top qualifiers in the women’s 100-meter final, scratched from the headline event.
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Here are the winners and losers from the Los Angeles Grand Prix:
Ryan Crouser sets another world record
USA’s Ryan Crouser is competing with himself in the men’s shot put. Crouser tossed 77 feet, 3 3/4 inches to break his own world record. The previous world record held by Crouser was 76-8 1/4 that he set in 2021.
“I’m really excited. It felt like I had a ton of power and I caught a big one,” Crouser said. “But there’s still a lot more there which is really exciting.”
The American middle distance runner ran a season-best of 1:44.75 to win the men’s 800 meters.
“You can pretty much call that a preview to the USA (championships). It was a big statement for myself and my coach,” Murphy said. “We are in the right direction and there’s still a lot of meat on the bone, both tactically and training wise.”
Maggie Ewen
Ewen tossed a personal-best and a world-leading throw of 67-1 1/4 to win the women’s shot put. She told USA TODAY Sports that her throw served as validation that she’s in good form as this year’s world championships approach and with the Olympics next year.
“It feels great. There’s really no other way to put it,” Ewen said. “I don’t think it really changes how we been looking at the Olympics and how we’re looking at the world championships. It just kind of reinforces that we are doing the right things.”
