The 8 biggest storylines heading into the 2022 Track and Field World Championships

• Track and field's World Championships begin on Friday in Eugene, Oregon.
• The field is loaded with several rising American stars, like Noah Lyles, Erriyon Knighton, Sydney McLaughlin, Athing Mu, and more.

Track and field's World Championships begin in Eugene, Oregon this week, running from July 15-24 and airing on NBC, CNBC and USA, and streaming on Peacock. Several rising US stars are slated to add to already impressive résumés.

Here are just a few storylines to watch.

1. It's the first time World Championships have been held in the US

The World Championships will take place in Eugene, Oregon, at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field.

It's the first time the event has been held on US soil, and the event will host approximately 2,000 athletes.

It's also an opportunity to show off Hayward Field's $270 million renovations, which were funded largely by Oregon alum and Nike founder Phil Knight.

2. Allyson Felix's farewell

The most decorated US track and field athlete of all-time, Felix is retiring at the end of the season, making this her final World Championships.

At 37, Felix did not qualify for the individual 400-meter, but she is expected to race in the 400-meter relay.

Felix has won 17 world championship medals.

"We are very lucky that Allyson has done what she's done in our sport," World Athletics President Sebastian Coe told Insider. "Because she really has had a huge impact, particularly on giving permission, excitement, inspiration to young girls to believe that the sport is a sport for them."

3. Can anyone beat Ryan Crouser?

The American shot-putter owns the world record, set at Olympic trials last year, and is a two-time gold medalist. He owns seven of the top 10 throws of all-time. However, he's never won an outdoor world championship, having narrowly lost to Joe Kovacs at worlds in 2019.

Since the end of 2019, Courser has won 33 of 34 events, with his only "loss" a silver at the 2022 World Indoor Championships.

4. Noah Lyles vs. Erriyon Knighton in the stacked men's 200-meter

Lyles may have ignited a rivalry at US Championships two weeks ago. Lyles, the bronze medalist in the 200-meter at the Tokyo Games, came from behind to beat the 18-year-old Knighton by .02 seconds. As Lyles crossed the finish line, he pointed at Knighton, who was not amused by the gesture.

Knighton has been the fastest man in the world in the event this year, running a 19.49, the fourth-fastest time ever, at the LSU Invitational.

Lyles, meanwhile, has only ever lost the event twice: at the Olympics and in 2019.

It's a stacked field, however: Tokyo gold medalist Andre De Grasse of Canada will compete so long as he is fully recovered from COVID-19, as will Kenny Bednarek, the reigning Olympic silver medalist.

5. Athing Mu is on fire

There may not be a more dominant runner than Athing Mu right now. The 20-year-old has won every outdoor 800-meter race she's run over the last two years. And she has won 35 of 36 total races the last two years — her lone loss a second-place finish in the 400-meter at a NCAA competition.

She may have competition from Ajeé Wilson, who briefly led Mu in the US Championships before finishing in second by .07 seconds.

6. Don't forget about Sydney McLaughlin

McLaughlin also arrives in Eugene having won every outdoor 400-meter hurdles she's raced since the 2019 World Championships. At the US Championships in June, McLaughlin bested her own world record with a 51.41 seconds, topping the mark she set at the Tokyo Olympics while winning gold.

7. An Olympic rematch in the men's 400-meter hurdles

While McLaughlin is the runner to watch in the women's 400-meter hurdles, the men's features a compelling rematch from Tokyo between Norweigian gold medalist Karsten Warholm and the US's Rai Benjamin. Benjamin set an American record with a time of 46.17 seconds but was topped by Warholm's 45.94.

Benjamin ran a world-leading 47.07 at the US Championships.

8. No Russians will be present

World Athletics have banned Russians from competing at World Championships over the war in Ukraine.

Russian athletes were already barred from competing for their home country in World Athletics events as punishment for the state-sponsored doping program that was uncovered in 2019. Though World Athletics had approved some athletes to compete under a neutral banner, those athletes will not be allowed at Oregon22.