Gabby Thomas, Heather MacLean punch tickets to event finals at U.S. Track & Field Olympic Trials

Heather MacLean wins a heat in the women's 1,500-meter run during the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Team Trials Thursday in Eugene, Ore.

Heather MacLean wins a heat in the women's 1,500-meter run during the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Team Trials Thursday in Eugene, Ore. AP

Gabby Thomas wins a heat in the women's 200-meter semifinals during the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Team Trials Friday in Eugene, Ore.

Gabby Thomas wins a heat in the women's 200-meter semifinals during the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Team Trials Friday in Eugene, Ore. AP

By GARRETT COTE

Staff Writer

Published: 06-29-2024 12:31 AM

A sly smirk appeared on Gabby Thomas’ face as she looked up with wide eyes at the board to see a time of 21.78 seconds.

Thomas, a former star at Williston Northampton, coasted to not only a win in her heat during Friday night’s 200 meter semifinals in Eugene, Ore., she posted the fastest time in the entire world this year.

Once Thomas hit the turn at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials, where she was already a stride ahead of Abby Steiner (who finished second in the heat), she took off. The 21.78 time shaved 0.14 seconds off of Sha’Carri Richardson’s 21.92 time – the second best semifinal showing on Friday.

Thomas and Richardson will face off in a must-see final on Saturday night.

The absurd part about Thomas crossing the line faster than any other 200 participant in 2024? She barely broke a sweat. She feels there’s more left in the tank.

“I was really happy with that, that felt like a very smooth and easy run for me,” Thomas told NBC’s Lewis Johnson afterward. “I didn’t really know what to expect, so to see that kind of time – something that felt so nice and controlled – is a good feeling.”

Now holding the best time among her peers, she’s ready to carry that momentum into Saturday’s final. And if Thomas makes the Olympic team, the 2020 Tokyo bronze medalist wants everyone to know that she’s ready for the big stage.

“I absolutely would [love to send a message to the rest of the world],” she said. “This is my year, so if I make the team, I want to come out with another world lead, another [personal best], and just show everyone that I’m ready to compete.”

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Elsewhere, former UMass star Heather MacLean also punched her ticket to a finals.

MacLean competed in the semifinals of the women’s 1500, where she placed third overall with a time of 4 minutes, 2.09 seconds. With the top five placers in each heat advancing to Sunday’s finals, MacLean moved on to keep her Olympic dream alive. 

MacLean, of Peabody, made a move to the front early in the race and stayed near the front of the pack throughout. Nikki Hiltz (4:01.40) and Sinclair Johnson (4:01.68) were able to pull ahead of the group late while MacLean finished just ahead of Cory McGee (4:02.09) and Elle St. Pierre (4:02.14) to take third. All five runners, who had separated from the group, advanced to Sunday’s finals run, where MacLean will look to return to the Olympics after earning a spot in the event in Tokyo.