EUGENE, Ore. — Taliyah Brooks collapsed on Sunday’s second and final day of the women’s Heptathlon due to the extremely hot temperatures at Hayward Field that reached a record high. She was not able to finish the competition after being forced to be examined.
Brooks, who started the competition as one of the leading contenders for a place on the women’s multi-event team for this summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, was sitting in fourth place after five completed events.
She was about to enter the javelin throw competition with 4908 points when she fainted to the track before the start of the sixth event. She was pictured getting assistance getting off the track in the 110-degree heat, which has been identified as the hottest day in Eugene, on record.
READ MORE: Miller-Uibo, Thomas, Fraser-Pryce set for 200m clash in Monaco
After falling to the track, the former University of Arkansas standout was carted off the field in a wheelchair and was taken to the hospital. Brooks returned later in the day hoping to resume the javelin throw competition, but after consulting with medical advisers, the officials decided against allowing her to return to the contest, even though it has been reported that she was allowed to continue competing but didn’t show up.
Although the afternoon temperatures reached 108 degrees, stadium officials revealed to World-Track that temperatures on the track exceeded 150 degrees!
READ: Taliyah Brooks returns to the track after US Trials setback
Brooks started the day in second place with 3946 points and before leaping 6.36m in the long jump for 962 points.
Annie Kunz went on to take the win after tallying 6703 points for a new personal best with Kendell Williams also setting a personal best with 6683pts for second place. Erica Bougard rounded out the U.S. Team to the Tokyo Olympics in the event with 6667pts.
The 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials had to be suspended until later in the evening when the temperatures cool down.
READ: Sydney McLaughlin smashes 400m hurdles world record at U.S. Olympic Trials
Earlier in the day, the men’s 5000m finals took place at 10 a.m. after it rescheduled with the anticipation of the high temperatures. During that race, the surface on the track reached 90 as Paul Chelimo fended off the challenges from Grant Fisher and Woody Kincaid to win in 13:26.82.
Fisher was second in 13:27.01 and Kincaid was third in 13:27.13.
