Former World Champion Yohan Blake rolled back the years as he added the 200m title to the 100m crown he won two days before, thus replicating his feat where he claimed victory in the 100m/200m at the 2012 Jamaican Trials.
This was certainly a championship to remember for Blake who had been sidelined by injury in the past few years and had been unable to compete at the highest level as a result.
The absence of World Record (WR) holder Usain Bolt no doubt diminished the level of competition, but Blake would be pleased that he made the most of his team mate’s absence.
After clocking 9.95s to win the 100m on Friday evening, Blake was able to overcome the threat posed by Nickel Ashmeade (20.45s) and Julian Forte (20.45s) to race to the 200m title in a Season’s Best (SB) of 20.29s. London 2012 Bronze medallist Warren Weir finished a disappointing 4th in 20.50s.
Although Blake has already booked his spot at the Olympics, the Jamaican still has his work cut out ahead of the Rio Games, considering that his American rivals have gone much faster.
The men’s 100m at the US Olympic Trials was won with a scorching World Lead (WL) of 9.80s clocked by Justin Gatlin, and even 3rd place finisher Marvin Bracy was still faster than Blake by a hundredth of a second.
Although 100m World Leader Elaine Thompson had been tipped to also do the sprint double, the Beijing 2015 Silver medallist pulled out of the 200m final alongside team mate Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, even though the pair had earlier competed in the semis of the women’s 200m.
Simone Facey took the win in 22.65s, while Veronica Campbell Brown sealed the spot for her fifth Olympic Games after coming 2nd in 22.80s. It would be a huge relief for the two-time Olympic 200m Champion, having finished 4th in the women’s 100m. Kali Davis-White was 3rd in 22.94s.
Javon Francis was the man to beat in the 400m, returning a time of 44.95s to take the victory, with Fitzroy Dunkley and Nathon Allen following in 2nd and 3rd respectively in 45.35s and 45.52s.
The women’s event was keenly contested as the Top 4 finishers all clocked SBs, but it was Commonwealth Champion Stephenie-Ann McPherson who took the day, upstaging her rivals to with a time of 50.04s.
Christine Day (50.29s), Beijing 2015 Bronze medallist Shericka Jackson (50.42s) and veteran Novlene Williams-Mills (50.64s) complete the list of the Top 4 athletes in the event.
Omar McLeod continued his unbeaten run to claim his second consecutive title with an impressive time of 13.01s. The World Leader remains the firm favourite for the GOLD medal at the Olympics and is the only hurdler to have gone inside 13s (12.98s) in 2016. Deuce Carter (13.21s) and Andrew Riley (13.49s) were 2nd and 3rd respectively.
There was some drama in the 100m Hurdles as reigning World Champion Danielle Williams crashed out as she Did Not Finish (DNF) the race despite starting well. Instead it was Megan Simmonds who stole the show with a Personal Best (PB) of 12.79s, with Shermaine Williams (12.90s) and Nickiesha Wilson (12.97s) also booking their tickets to Rio.
