Justin Gatlin powered to victory in the 200 metres at the US Olympic trials on Saturday as hurdler Aries Merritt’s fairytale comeback from a kidney transplant ended in disappointment.
Justin Gatlin powered to victory in the 200 metres at the US Olympic trials on Saturday as hurdler Aries Merritt’s fairytale comeback from a kidney transplant ended in disappointment.
Gatlin, 34, won a blistering duel with LaShawn Merritt to complete a sprint double following his win in the 100m on the opening weekend at Hayward Field.
Gatlin crossed the line in 19.75 seconds, holding off a late burst from LaShawn Merritt who came home in 19.79sec.
The 2004 Olympic 100m champion later revealed he had been troubled by niggling injuries throughout the meet. “I just went out there and did what I had to do. My coach said ‘Just get out of the blocks, and stay out.’ My eyes got big and I just kept running as hard as I could,” Gatlin said.
In the women’s 200m, reigning Olympic champion Allyson Felix shook off the rust to qualify for Sunday’s final.
IAAF clears only Russian long jumper In Moscow, the IAAF cleared only long jumper Darya Klishina to compete at the Rio Olympics, meaning the last remaining hope for pole vault star Yelena Isinbayeva and other Russian athletes now rests on an impending court decision.
The IAAF, which has suspended the Russian track and field team over state-sponsored doping that has cast a shadow over next month’s Games, said it had given the go ahead for Klishina to compete in international competition as a neutral.
