LOS ANGELES \u2015 The inaugural Los Angeles Grand Prix concluded Saturday, as track and field athletes from around the world convened at UCLA\u2019s Drake Stadium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe see this as a long-term investment here in Los Angeles,\u201d USA Track and Field CEO Max Siegel said. \u201cWe\u2019re excited about coming back here next year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019s 100-meter final, scratched from the headline event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m really excited. It felt like I had a ton of power and I caught a big one,\u201d Crouser said. \u201cBut there\u2019s still a lot more there which is really exciting.\u201d
The American middle distance runner ran a season-best of 1:44.75 to win the men\u2019s 800 meters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou can pretty much call that a preview to the USA (championships). It was a big statement for myself and my coach,\u201d Murphy said. \u201cWe are in the right direction and there\u2019s still a lot of meat on the bone, both tactically and training wise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maggie Ewen
Ewen tossed a personal-best and a world-leading throw of 67-1 1\/4 to win the women\u2019s shot put. She told USA TODAY Sports that her throw served as validation that she\u2019s in good form as this year\u2019s world championships approach and with the Olympics next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt feels great. There\u2019s really no other way to put it,\u201d Ewen said. \u201cI don\u2019t think it really changes how we been looking at the Olympics and how we\u2019re looking at the world championships. It just kind of reinforces that we are doing the right things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n