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The Toyota USATF Outdoor and Para National Championships will be on the country's biggest stage — New York City — with stars befitting the location.
Noah Lyles, the Olympic 100m gold medalist, is entered in both the 100m and 200m at Icahn Stadium.
In the 100m, he faces rival Kenny Bednarek, one year after their 200m showdown led to a stare and a shove. In the 200m, Lyles goes for a record-breaking sixth U.S. title.
In the women's sprints, Sha'Carri Richardson looks to become the second woman to win three U.S. 100m titles since 2000 (Carmelita Jeter). Richardson, the 2023 World champion and 2024 Olympic silver medalist, is the fastest American so far in 2026 (10.77 seconds).
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, who swept 100m, 200m and 4x100m golds at last September's World Championships, is entered in the 200m this week.
Other 2024 Olympic gold medalists entered include Quincy Hall (400m), Tara Davis-Woodhall (long jump, also entered in 100m hurdles) and Valarie Sion (discus).
Here are five standout events this week:
Women's 100m — semifinals and final Friday (6-8 p.m. ET, Peacock, NBCSN)
Sha'Carri Richardson ran the U.S. 100m final on three occasions in the last five years and crossed the finish line first each time (2021 (later vacated), 2023, 2024). She's a clear favorite again this year, especially with Jefferson-Wooden not defending her title in this event. In 2025, when Richardson was set back early in the year by injury, her best time for the year ended up being 10.94 (fifth at World Championships). Already in 2026, she has run 10.77, 10.79 and 10.83.
The other most decorated women in the field are better known for their 200m prowess: Brittany Brown and McKenzie Long, who were third and seventh in the longer sprint at the Paris Olympics, and two-time Olympian Jenna Prandini.
Men's 100m — semifinals and final Friday (6-8 p.m. ET, Peacock, NBCSN)
A different man won this title at the last six nationals, the most parity in the event since Carl Lewis won the first of his five crowns in 1981. Lyles, the U.S. champion in 2018 and 2024, and Bednarek, the 2025 U.S. champion, can break that trend. Lyles beat Bednarek in their last seven head-to-heads in 100m finals, according to Tilastopaja.info.
Christian Coleman and Courtney Lindsey, who joined Lyles and Bednarek on the 2025 World Championships-winning 4x100m relay, are also entered.
Women's 100m Hurdles — semifinals and final Saturday (2-6 p.m. ET, NBC, Peacock)
Eight of the world's 19 fastest women of 2026 are entered in a race that's traditionally one of the U.S.' deepest. That includes 2025 World bronze medalist Grace Stark and fellow 2024 Olympian Alaysha Johnson, each eyeing her first U.S. title in the event.
Plus Aaliyah McCormick, who won the last two NCAA titles for Oregon, and Tara Davis-Woodhall, the Olympic long jump gold medalist. And Brianna McNeal, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist returning this year from a five-year suspension over drug-testing rules.
Men's Pole Vault — final Sunday (4-6 p.m. ET, NBC, Peacock)
The top three Americans in history are entered: American record holder KC Lightfoot, seeking his first national title, plus the last two Olympic silver medalists — Sam Kendricks (a seven-time U.S. outdoor champion) and Chris Nilsen (three-time U.S. outdoor champion).
Men's 800m — final Sunday (4-6 p.m. ET, NBC, Peacock)
In 2025, Cooper Lutkenhaus, then 16, finished second at nationals to later become the youngest American to compete at a World Outdoor Championships. There are no outdoor worlds this year, but Lutkenhaus did set a goal to sweep the U.S. indoor and outdoor 800m titles. He already achieved the former (and then won the world indoor 800m title in March, the youngest individual world champion in track and field history).
He'll have to beat defending champion Donovan Brazier. Brazier, also the 2019 World champion, held off Lutkenhaus by eight hundredths in the epic 2025 U.S. final, capping a comeback from nearly three years away from competition.
