Anna Cockrell finally has a national championship to her name. The former USC track and field standout claimed her first 400-meter hurdles title at the USATF Outdoor Championships on Sunday, crossing the line in 52.94 seconds.
Anna Cockrell Dominates USATF Outdoor Championships Hurdles
It was a wire-to-wire victory. Cockrell pulled ahead early and never let up, building a gap that no one could close. Deonca Bookman finished second in 53.95, while Shamier Little rounded out the podium in 54.37.
For Cockrell, the win caps years of near-misses at the national level. She earned an Olympic silver medal in 2024 but had yet to stand atop the podium at a US championship. That changed Sunday at Icahn Stadium in New York.
USC Track & Field Standouts Fill USATF Field
The women's hurdles results also carried a USC connection beyond Cockrell. Her alma mater had multiple athletes competing across events at the four-day meet, reinforcing the program's depth on the national stage.
Still, this moment belonged to Cockrell. At 28, she ran one of the fastest times in the world this season, and she did it when it mattered most. With the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, the USC alum now has a national title and serious momentum heading toward a home Games.
