by Alfonz Juck
Justin Gatlin takes a selfie, photo by PhotoRun.net
US TRIALS
EUGENE (USA, Jul 3): Six World leads on Sunday at US Olympic Trials. Hot off the heels of Elaine Thompson’s 10.70 victory at the Jamaican Trials, English Gardner confirmed her excellent shape by winning the 100m at the American Olympic Trials in a wind-legal 10.74 ahead of world long jump champion Tianna Bartoletta (10.78) and Tori Bowie (10.78). Bartoletta was given second by 0.003. Morolake Akinosun (10.95) and Jenna Prandini (10.96) also broke the 11-second mark although the latter was tipped to make the top three after posting a wind-aided 10.81 in the heats. Top 4 clocked Pb´s. There were also fast times in the semi-finals but they were all wind-aided: Bowie 10.74, Gardner 10.74, Bartoletta 10.79, Prandini 10.86. In the men’s 100m, Justin Gatlin came good in Eugene with his two fastest times of the year so far. The 2004 Olympic champion clocked 9.83 in the semi-finals before winning the final in 9.80 ahead of Trayvon Bromell (9.84 equaled PB) and Marvin Bracy (9.98). Seasoned campaigners Mike Rodgers (9.98) and Tyson Gay (10.00) were fourth and fifth respectively. In semis PB for Christian Coleman 9.95. The long jump final was accompanied by a strong tailwind but the standard was excellent with Damarcus Simpson only placing eighth despite jumping 8.12m. Jeff Henderson claimed the title with 8.59m (2.9) ahead of Jarrion Lawson (also seventh in the 100m final in 10.07) whose best mark of 8.58m was wind-legal WL and PB and Will Claye 8.42m. Marquis Dendy also jumped 8.42 PB but Claye had already jumped 8.38m and prevailed on countback. LaShawn Merritt won the 400m in a world-leading 43.97 ahead of Gil Roberts (44.73) and David Verburg (44.82) with fastest qualifier Tony McQuay only fifth in 45.30 while Allyson Felix eclipsed Shaunae Miller’s world-lead in the women’s 400m with victory in 49.68 ahead of Phyllis Francis (49.94 PB) and Natasha Hastings (50.17). Out for Francena McCorory and Courtney Okolo. Ashton Eaton put together a solid second day to win the decathlon in a world-leading 8750 ahead of Jeremy Taiwo (8425 PB) and Zach Ziemek (8413 PB). Eaton’s second day: 13.60 110mH, 41.39m DT, 5.25m PV, 57.84m JT, 4:25.15 1500m. Chaunte Lowe made her fourth Olympic team with her first 2m-plus jump in four years with 2.01 WL ahead of Vashti Cunningham (1.97 equaled outdoor US junior record) and Inika McPherson (1.93m).
EUGENE (USA): Bob Kersee admits Allyson Felix is still not at full fitness despite setting a world-leading mark in the 400m final. “She ran it the way we wanted to her run it. I thought she’d run 49.7. The conditioning is not quite there, but she’s the fastest one in the field,” he said.
EUGENE (USA): Jeff Henderson dedicated his long jump win to his mother who suffers from Alzheimer’s. “She’s had it since I got out of high school. I don’t know whether she’ll be aware of what I’ve done, but I’ll be glad to go home and let her know much I love her.” he said. His 1 cm winning margin is the smallest ever at LJ in US Olympic Trials.
EUGENE (USA): English Gardner was determined to make the Olympic team for Rio after finishing seventh in the final at the 2012 Olympic Trials. “I remember in 2012, I sat in the car, and I cried. I cried my eyes out and came to the realisation that I never wanted to feel that feeling again, and so when I crossed the line and saw the results, I didn’t really care if I came in first, second or third, I was just excited that I made the team. With the help of these ladies, we were able to give the show that we promised from the beginning,” she said. Her winning 10.74 is the fastest non-FloJo time at US Olympic Trials, the 10.78 is the fastest 2nd and 3rd place time ever at the Trials and best 3rd ever.
EUGENE (USA): Justin Gatlin made third Olympic team at 100m tying his coach Dennis Mitchell who made the team from 1988 to 1996. The 10.02 by Clayton Vaughn is the fastest non-qualifier for the 100m final in the US Olympic Trials.
EUGENE (USA): Chaunte Howard Lowe made 4th Olympic team. Amy Acuff made five from 1996 to 2012. She also tied her US Olympic Trials record from 2012.
