NEW YORK – Track and field’s brightest stars are set to take center stage in New York City when the Toyota USATF Outdoor and Para National Championships return to historic Icahn Stadium on July 23-26. USA Track & Field, in partnership with Randall’s Island Park Alliance, Central Park Track Club, USATF New York and nonprofit New York Road Runners, today announced the first wave of athletes confirmed to compete for national titles.
Among the stars headed to New York are three-time world champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, world champion and teenage sensation Cooper Lutkenhaus, Paralympic gold medalist Ezra Frech and Olympian and collegiate record holder Parker Valby. Tickets are on sale now.
Jefferson-Wooden arrives in New York seeking her fourth U.S. outdoor title. The sprint standout captured the 100-meter crown in 2022 before sweeping both the 100m and 200m at last year’s Toyota USATF Outdoor and Para National Championships. She followed that performance with a historic showing at the World Championships in Tokyo, earning gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 4×100-meter relay.
“I am excited to be in New York at the end of July,” said Jefferson-Wooden, who also earned bronze in the 100m at the Paris Olympic Games. “Right now, my focus is simple: one day, one practice, one meet at a time. I am staying present, trusting the process and looking forward to seeing where that takes me this season. “
Few athletes have experienced a rise as meteoric as Lutkenhaus. In less than a year, the Texas native has gone from high school sensation to one of the world’s premier 800-meter runners. After his dramatic world-record performance at last year’s U.S. Championships, he became the youngest American ever to compete at the World Championships. Earlier this year, he captured a world indoor title in Poland before defeating the past two world champions in the 800m on the Diamond League circuit.
“I am looking forward to a great race at the USATF Outdoor Championships,” said Lutkenhaus, who currently owns the third-fastest 800-meter performance in American history. “It will be special to race for my second national title in New York City, where I won the U.S. indoor title earlier this year. It truly is the world’s biggest stage.”
Frech has become one of the most recognizable figures in the Paralympic movement. The Los Angeles native won double gold in the 100m and high jump at the Paris Paralympic Games at just 20 years old. He added national titles in the 100m, high jump and long jump last year before earning silver in the high jump at the World Para Athletics Championships.
“I’m super excited to see the crowds and atmosphere next month,” said Frech, who holds the T63 world record in the high jump.
“Since it was announced, I have been looking forward to competing in such an epic city like New York. Can’t wait to put on a show!”
Valby has quickly returned to elite form following an injury setback earlier this year. In her last two races, she lowered her personal best in the 5,000 meters, highlighted by a commanding 14:39 performance at the Los Angeles Grand Prix that moved her to No. 9 on the U.S. all-time list. The Paris Olympian is one of the most accomplished collegiate distance runners in history, winning six NCAA titles during her career at the University of Florida.
The Toyota USATF Outdoor and Para National Championships will take place July 23-26 and will determine national champions across track and field and para athletics disciplines. The four-day celebration of running, jumping and throwing will be broadcast nationally on NBC, Peacock and USATF.TV.
FRESHTIX is the official ticketing site for the 2026 Toyota USATF Outdoor & Para National Championships.
Media interested in covering the meet can apply for a credential here.
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About Central Park Track Club (CPTC)
Founded in 1972, the Central Park Track Club is comprised of 600+ members from the New York area including 14 Olympians and 19 World Championships Qualifiers. CPTC has won the USA Track & Field Club National Championships nine times. The club is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information about the club or supporting our NYC elite athlete program, please visit www.centralparktc.org
About New York Road Runners (NYRR)
A New York City-based nonprofit, New York Road Runners’ vision is to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running – serving more than half a million people annually through its races, free community events, youth running initiatives, and school-based programs across the five boroughs. During its nearly 70 years, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization, producing more than 60 adult and youth races each year, including the TCS New York City Marathon. Held the first Sunday each November, the TCS New York City Marathon features more than 55,000 runners—from the world’s best professional athletes to a vast range of runners across experience levels, ages, genders, abilities, and backgrounds. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.
About Randall’s Island Park Alliance and Icahn Stadium
Founded in 1992, the Randall’s Island Park Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a public-private partner of the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, dedicated to realizing the full potential of Randall’s Island Park’s 330 acres of waterfront parkland at the intersection of Manhattan, the Bronx, and Queens. The Alliance serves as the Park’s steward, sustaining, maintaining, developing, and programming the park for the benefit of all, while also managing operations at Icahn Stadium.
Built in 2005, Icahn Stadium is one of the nation’s premier track and field venues and has hosted hundreds of thousands of athletes across elite competitions. In 2025, the stadium installed a state-of-the-art Mondo track surface, earning Class I certification and becoming one of only four outdoor venues in the United States with this certification and eligibility to host world-class competitions. For more information, visit randallsisland.org.