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Here's when track and field starts at the Paris Olympics

Expect to see track and field stars Noah Lyles and Sha'Carri Richardson as the track and field competition starts at the Olympics.
Credit: AP
FILE - Sha'Carri Richardson celebrates after winning the gold medal in the women's 100-meters during the World Athletics Championships, Aug. 2023.

PARIS, France — While Team USA has already been racking up the medal count in swimming and gymnastics, another high-profile sport has yet to begin. 

Track and field events will kick off with the men's and women's 20-kilometer race walk on Thursday. 

Friday will bring a much fuller slate of events, including the women's 100-meter heats, the final of the men's 10,000-meter race and the start of the decathlon. 

Expect to see track and field stars Noah Lyles, Sha'Carri Richardson and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone as they hit the purple track in the Summer Games.

When is Sha’Carri Richardson competing?

Richardson is the fastest woman in the world in the 100-meter in 2024.

The sprinter will make her Olympic debut in the women's 100-meter heats on Friday, Aug. 2.

All signs point toward Richardson getting that win in the Olympic final, set for Aug. 3 at the Stade de France.

She won the Olympic trials in 10.71 seconds – the best time in the world this year. One of her main challengers, Shericka Jackson of Jamaica, pulled up lame in a tune-up race earlier this month, bringing her fitness for the Olympics into question.

When is Noah Lyles competing?

Lyles will run in the 100-meter and 200-meter races, as well as relays. He's expected to contend for gold in the 100-meter, but Jamaica's Kishane Thompson has the fastest time in 2024. The men's 100-meter final is set for Aug. 4, and the final for the 200-meter is Aug. 8.

Lyles calls the 200 meters, where he is a three-time world champion, “my wife” and the 100 meters “my mistress." He became a national champion in both earlier this summer at Olympic trials.

Finals for the men's and women's 4x100 relay are on Aug. 9.

When is Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone competing?

McLaughlin-Levrone set a new world record during the U.S. Olympic track and field trials in June, finishing the 400-meter hurdles in 50.65 seconds. She also has the best time in the world in the 400-meter this year and is expected to race in the 4x400 relay. The women's 400-meter hurdle final is on Aug. 8, the 400-meter is Aug. 9 and the 4x400 relay is Aug. 10.

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