Doubts that Justin Gatlin is Usain Bolt’s biggest threat to retaining the 100m Olympic GOLD medal have further been dispelled after he powered to a World Leading (WL) mark of 9.80s to win the American title on Sunday at the ongoing US trials.
While Bolt’s participation at the Rio Olympics is in doubt following his hamstring injury at the Jamaican trials last weekend, Gatlin is getting ready in style and running his fastest time since Beijing 2015 where he finished 2nd with an identical time.
World Championships Bronze medallist Trayvon Bromell who recovered in time from an injury to make the US Championships, finished 2nd in 9.84s with Marvin Bracy clocking 9.98s to place 3rd.
There is no disputing that Bolt, if he makes a full recovery, remains favourite to retain the Olympic GOLD, but just like he did prior to the World Championships, he will have to be looking over his shoulders for Gatlin, who undoubtedly must have gotten wiser from 2015.
In the women’s 100m, all top five finishers ran under 11s in a race that was keenly contested. English Gardner ran the second fastest time in the world this year to win the title in 10.74s, with Tianna Bartoletta who participated in the women’s Long Jump a day earlier finishing 2nd with 10.78s, same time as former WL Tori Bowie who finished 3rd.
Both quarter-mile races provided a thrilling contest that served as a snippet of things to come this year. LaShawn Merritt showed he is in the frame for a 400m GOLD after running the fastest time over that distance this year to win the men’s title with a WL mark of 43. 97s.
It was a race Merritt had firm control of having started from Lane 5, and attacked the bend with power, dominating till the finish line. Gil Roberts placed 2nd in the race with a time of 44.73s, and David Verburg 3rd in 44.82s.
Merritt might be 30 years old, but he is constantly proving that he has the verve to match the grit of younger athletes like defending Olympic champion Kirani James and World Champion Wayde Van Niekerk , who both hold the second and third fastest times this year at 44.08s and 44.11s respectively.
Competing for the first time this season, Allyson Felix proved it is not by the number of appearances one makes, but that class is permanent. Felix who was making a comeback from an injury stormed to a WL of 49.68s to win the women’s 400m title.
Phyllis Francis finished 2nd in 49.94s and Natasha Hastings 3rd in 50.17s. The USA women’s 400m races always throws up upsets, and it was not surprising seeing the likes of Francena McCorory and Courtney Okolo failing to make the team on an individual basis, having finished 5th and 6th clocking 50.37s and 50.39s respectively.
Meanwhile in the Long Jump, just as was witnessed in the women’s category a day earlier after Brittney Reese leapt to victory with a Personal Best of 7.31m, the men’s category was even tighter.
In fact, nine athletes jumped over 8m as they all gave their best in a bid to make the US team. Jeffery Henderson won the event leaping 8.59m (2.9) and Jarion Lawson 2nd with a mark of 8.58m (1.8) and Will Clay 3rd with 8.42m (5.0).
