The headliner in Irving, Texas this weekend was obviously in the women’s -78kg division. Defending Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison announced she would compete at the USA National Championships last week and won her ninth national championship over Kaelin O’Sullivan in the final.

Other winners of national titles this weekend were.
Women’s -48kg: Corey Jo Tashima – A 29-year-old who won her second national title after finishing third last year
Women’s -52kg: Angelica Delgado – A 25-year-old who won her fourth national title. She did not participate last year but won the previous two.
Women’s -57kg: Amelia Fulgentes – A 22-year-old with back-to-back national titles after finishing third the previous two years.
Women’s -63kg: Alisha Galles – A 20-year-old who just won her first national title. She was second two years ago at -57kg but did not participate last year.
Women’s -70kg: Katie Sell – A 28-year-old who has medaled at the senior nationals 11 times. This is her fourth national title but first since 2013. She was second last year.
Women’s +78kg: Nina Cutro-Kelly – A 31-year-old who now has seven national titles including four in a row.
Women’s Open: Nikki Mungunshagai  – A 26-year-old who was competing in her first national championship
Men’s -55kg: Devin Garrido – A 19-year-old who won his first national title after a runner-up finish last year.
Men’s -60kg: Adonis Diaz – A 19-year-old who has won back-to-back national titles.
Men’s -66kg: Cole Chandler – An 18-year-old who just won his first national title.
Men’s -73kg: Brad Bolen – A 27-year-old who his fourth national title and third straight.
Men’s -81kg: Jack Hatton – A 20-year-old who won his first national title after a third place finish last year.
Men’s -90kg: Matthew Koch – A 20-year-old who won his first national title after a third place finish last year.
Men’s -100kg: L.A. Smith – A 21-year-old who has now won four straight national titles.
Men’s +100kg: Akbar Iminov – A 21-year-old who won his first national title after a third place finish last year.
Men’s Open: Tokuzo Takahashi  – He has now won seven national titles in seven appearances including the last five.

The first qualifiers for the Olympics in judo are determined by the world ranking list on May 30th and the US should have several qualifiers confirmed on that date. The next major judo event for the Americans are the Pan American Judo Championships in Havana, Cuba April 27th-30th.