Justin Gatlin stormed to victory in the 100m at the US World championship trials on Friday, upstaging rising star Christian Coleman and setting up the prospect of one final duel with Usain Bolt.
The 35-year-old Gatlin turned on the gas in the final 20 meters at Sacramento’s Hornet Stadium to reel in Coleman for a convincing win in 9.95s. “It was just a fighting moment,” Gatlin said of his victory.
“It wasn’t the spectacular time that you’ve seen me run in the past couple of years. But, it was a time that I needed to fight. I had to make sure I was right there with him at the end and try and hold on with experience.”
Coleman, 21, had been tipped as the likeliest US rival to Bolt at August’s World Championships after clocking the fastest time in the world this year, a blistering 9.82sec.
But Coleman — who hours earlier had inked a seven-figure sponsorship deal with Nike — was put firmly in his place by the veteran Gatlin, finishing in 9.98 seconds. Christopher Belcher was third in 10.06s.
Asked if he felt Gatlin still ‘had it’, Coleman replied: “He never lost it!”
Gatlin, meanwhile, was delighted after clinching his ticket to London — and another potential showdown with Bolt. “It feels great,” said Gatlin, who has registered only one victory over Bolt in his career.
In the women’s 100m, Tori Bowie swept to a comfortable win in 10.94 ahead of Deajah Stevens and Ariana Washington. Allyson Felix, the reigning world 400m champion, finished last.
Meanwhile in the men’s triple jump, reigning Olympic and world champion Christian Taylor — who only needed to turn up here this week to cash in a wildcard place — intentionally fouled on his only leap of the competition.
In the women’s high jump, teenager Vashti Cunningham, the world indoor champion and daughter of former NFL star Randall Cunningham, posted a jump of 1.99m to win and clinch her place for the London Worlds.
In the opening heats of the women’s 100m hurdles, world record holder Keni Harrison impressed with 12.54s, the fastest time in the world this season.
The 24-year-old is desperate to make up for the bitter disappointment of last year, when she missed out on the Olympics after finishing sixth at the trials in Oregon.
Friday was Harrison’s first race since breaking her hand at a meeting in Doha last month.
Important results (all finals):
Men: 100m: 1. Justin Gatlin 9.95, 2. Christian Coleman, 3. Christopher Belcher. 10,000m: 1. Paul Chelimo 13m, 8.62s, 2. Eric Jenkins, 3. Ryan Hill. Triple jump: 1. Will Claye 17.91, 2. Chris Benard, 3. Donald Scott.
Women: 100m: 1. Tori Bowie 10.94, 2. Deajah Stevens, 3. Ariana Washington. 10,000m: 1. Shelby Houlihan 15m, 13.87s, 2. Shannon Rowbury, 3. Molly Huddle. High jump: 1. Vashti Cunningham 1.99m, 2. Liz Patterson, 3. Inika McPherson.
