U.S. flexes muscle — and speed
Harrison leads hurdles field; ex-Lobo Frerichs earns London spot
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Olympic 100-meter hurdles gold medalist didn’t race. The bronze medalist couldn’t make the team.
Still, they’re thinking a red, white and blue sweep in the event at the London world championships. Just shows the depth of the hurdles.
World-record holder Keni Harrison used a strong start to win her first U.S. outdoor track and field championship Saturday. Nia Ali, the silver medalist at the Rio de Janeiro Games, was second and Christina Manning took third. Because Harrison already had a wild-card berth into worlds in August, 2008 Olympic gold medalist Dawn Harper-Nelson also made the hurdles squad courtesy of her fourthplace finish.
“Everyone in this event is really strong,” said Harrison, who finished in 12.60 seconds to beat Ali by a 0.08 margin. “These girls are going to represent and get that sweep like last year (at the Olympics).”
In Rio, the 1-2-3 hurdles finish was led by Brianna Rollins, who received a one-year suspension in April for repeated failures to disclose her whereabouts to anti-doping officials. Rollins’ suspension is retroactive to Sept. 27, 2016, the date of her last missed whereabouts report. Also missing from the world team will be Kristi Castlin, the bronze medalist in Rio who wound up sixth in the final.
“To make this (hurdles) team, you have to work for it and earn it,” said Harper-Nelson, who drew a threemonth suspension that began in December for a positive test. She told anti-doping officials it was caused by blood pressure medication. “That just shows you how strong our team is.”
FRERICH RUNS SECOND: Courtney Frerichs ran to a second-place finish in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, thus earning her way to London as well. The Olympian and former NCAA champion in the event while competing for the University of New Mexico, Frerichs finished in 9 minutes, 22.23 seconds just behind Emma Coburn’s 9:20.28.
Frerichs, who also led UNM to a dominant cross-country national
title in 2015, competes for Bowerman Track Club in Portland, Ore.
Other highlights of Day 3 from nationals:
DID YOU SEE THAT? Pole vaulter Sam Kendricks became a member of the six-meter club (19 feet, 8¼ inches) in his win. He even waited through a roughly 20-minute delay while officials filled the water pit for the steeplechase.
“Every great jumper in history had at least one six-meter jump under their belt,” said Kendricks, an Army reservist. “I wanted to be part of the club, the very prestigious club.”
NO DOUBLE DESIRE: LaShawn Merritt and Allyson Felix both ran the 200 on Saturday simply to stay race sharp, with no plans to double in London. They each have automatic entries into worlds in the 400.
Justin Gatlin won’t double, either. The winner of the 100 the night before, Gatlin didn’t take the starting line for the 200. He’s been dealing with nagging quad/groin injuries.
BUFFALO STAMPEDE: Former University of Colorado runners Jenny Simpson (1,500) and Coburn (steeplechase) earned national titles. Another former Buffalo, 31-year-old Sara Vaughn, finished third in the 1,500. “We have an enormous school pride,” Simpson said.
QUOTABLE: “This year, I’m very healthy.” Aries Merritt after breezing into the next round of the 110 hurdles with the top time. The world-record holder underwent a kidney transplant shortly after winning a bronze medal at the 2015 world championships.
FACTS & FIGURES: Fred Kerley of Texas A&M held off Gil Roberts to capture the 400 title. Baylor’s Wil London III was third, meaning, as his coach, Clyde Hart, pronounced: “London is going to London.” … The field events winners included: Raven Saunders (shot put), Tianna Bartoletta (long jump), Riley Dolezal (javelin) and Mason Finley (discus).
ON DECK: Christian Coleman looks to earn a spot at worlds in the 200 today. He’s already going in the 100.