“To the victors, the spoils.” A saying that rings true for the United States after record after record was broken at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon came to a close. Team USA finished with a total medal count of 33, including 13 gold medals for a total of 328 points. Jamaica and Ethiopia finished in second and third with 111 and 106 respectively.

The Championships started off with a bang on the American side, winning the Bronze in the mixed 4x400m relay on day one, and on day two, sweeping the podium in the men’s 100m final.

The 100m gold was taken by favorite Fred Kerley, who finished with a 9.86, winning by the point of his ankle. In second and third were Marvin Bracy and Trayvon Bromwell - both recorded 9.88 - completing a sweep for Team US. Bracy left Eugene with two silver medals, while Bromwell picked up his second World bronze of his career.

“It feels amazing to lead the sweep on home soil, 1, 2 and 3.” Kerley stated after the race. “We got the job done, we said we were going to do it at USA’s, and that’s what we did.”

USA track and field’s most decorated medalist Allyson Felix gracefully ended her career at Hayward field with a bronze title in the mixed 4x400m on day one, and then was able to follow that up on the final day of events with a gold medal on the women’s 4x400m relay team. That would be her incomprehensible 20^th World medal.

Anchoring that women’s 400m relay group was Sydney McLaughlin, who once again set the track ablaze - this time, besting her world record in the 400m hurdles, pushing it to 50.68 in the final. Previously, she bested her world record set at the 2020 Olympic Games at the USATF championships in June with a time of 51.41.

“I’m just super grateful we love coming together and being able to run relays, as a team and bringing home another gold for team USA…” McLaughlin said. “I am the oldest, and that is weird, I’m 22, but that just shows our depth and how the future is so bright for track and field, and it’s an honor to be able to be with these girls who are just blowing things up in the spotlight, and I’m excited to see where things go.”

She’s right, women’s US track and field is in an amazing position in the future. Abby Steiner, the NCAA Champion in the 200m, who finished fifth in the final of her World Championship debut, is just 22. Britton Wilson, who also runs the 400m hurdles is just 21 years-old. She smoked her leg in the relay. Talitha Diggs, the daughter of four-time Olympian Joetta Clark Diggs, just finished her second season at the University of Florida, and is just 19.

Not only did the women’s team perform well in the 4x400m, but they also took gold in the 4x100m relay. That race also featured Abby Steiner, who helped the US record a time of 41.14, an American record, and hold off Jamaica by .07 seconds.

Now, the World’s weren’t all roses for everyone representing the United States. The biggest controversy leaving Eugene was the disqualification of 110m hurdle favorite Devon Allen for a false start as the final commenced. His false start was due to his .099 reaction time. The rules state that an athlete is required to have at least .100 for reaction time.

This didn’t hamper the US in the 110m hurdle, as Grant Holloway fended off teammate Trey Cunningham with a time of 13.03 to take gold.

Alaysha Johnson came on to the scene after a strong performance at the NY Grand Prix, then placed second at the USATF championships in June. However, she suffered a quick exit after disqualifying in her 110m hurdle heat.

After her race, she tweeted “For those wondering, I didn’t try to 7 step. I’m faster than I’ve ever been. The hurdle came up extremely fast and I couldn’t adjust in time. As a professional I’ll learn and adjust, better start next time.”

Team Canada was able to grab the men’s 4x100m relay gold, besting the US with a time of 37.48 to 37.55. Andre De Grasse, who didn’t earn a finals appearance in the 100m, anchored the Canadians to victory against a US squad that featured Christian Coleman, Noah Lyles, Elijah Hall, and Marvin Bracy.

Despite the slight disappointment in the 4x100m, the 200m podium completely belonged to the US men, led by speedster Noah Lyles, with a world leading time of 19.31 that broke Michael Johnson’s 1996 American record. Michael Norman also took gold in the 400m with a time of 44.29.

“I knew after the semis that today was going to be the day,” said Lyles after the race. “I looked at the weather, ‘this is, this is it…This year, all me and my coaches have been talking about was ‘we’re going after that record’ and here it is, now were hungry for more.”

Team USA was represented well in the field competitions too, taking a clean sweep of the men’s shot put. Oregon native Ryan Couser, was able to take gold in the event after posting a high of 22.94m, just barely besting silver medalist Joe Kovacs in what was the closest shot put battle of all-time.

"This is such a special night, being part of the USA sweep in the shot put at the first World Championships on home soil,” said Couser after his victory. “This is something I'll never forget, it's probably the proudest moment of my shot putting career. The USA has so much depth and has been dominant for so long. We've been talking about a sweep for a long time and we've finally done it.”

Not only did the US men show up for the shot put, but also the women’s side as well, with Chase Ealey earning gold after her first throw of 20.49m that proved just good enough to best China’s Lijao Gong.

Overall, it was an extremely impressive performance in by the United States at the World Championships, who played host nation for the first time. And, with so much young talent, it will come as no surprise that the USA could continue to dominate for the near future.