Wimbley wins 400m women’s title at US nationals
CHICAGO: Shakima Wimbley breezed to victory with a worldleading time to win the women’s 400-meter crown while Kahmari Montgomery took the men’s title Saturday at the US Track and Field Championships.
Wimbley clocked a 49.52-second run, lowering her previous best of 50.18, to defeat runner-up Jessica Beard by .16 at the Drake Stadium track in Des Moines, Iowa. Kendall Ellis finished third in 50.37.
Montgomery also ran a personal best time of 44.58 to win his first American title. Paul Dedewo finished just behind Montgomery in 44.64 while Michael Cherry was third in 44.85.
With no Olympic or world championship team berths at stake for the only time in a fouryear cycle, many big American names are sitting these nationals out, including world-record holder sprinter Christian Coleman and 100m world champion Justin Gatlin.
In an exciting men’s 1,500m race, Matthew Centrowitz won his fifth American title in 3: 43.37 with the top six finishers all separated by less than a second.
Centrowitz controled the race late as he ran a closing lap of 53.59 to beat runner-up Izaic Yorks, who clocked a 3: 43.63. Eric Jenkins was third in 3: 43.74.
Centrowitz took the early lead then lost it to Drew Hunter at the end of the first lap. The lead changed several times before Centrowitz regained it with a blazing final lap.
Emma Coburn ran the fastest last lap to win the women’s steeplechase final with a time of 9:17.70. Coburn held on to beat Courtney Frerichs, who finished in 9 : 18.69. Mel Lawrence was third in 9: 33.30. — AFP