Gatlin fires warning to rival Bolt
FELIX DOUBLE ON TRACK
EUGENE, USA – Justin Gatlin clocked the fastest 100 metres of the year to book his ticket to Rio at the US Olympic trials as Allyson Felix shrugged off her injury woes to power to victory in the 400m.
Gatlin won in a blistering 9.8 seconds at Hayward Field to edge out young pretender Trayvon Bromell who was second in 9.84 with Marvin Bracy third in 9.98.
The win sends the 34-yearold 2004 Olympic champion to Rio as the biggest threat to reigning champion Usain Bolt.
Gatlin, twice banned for doping offences during his controversial career, had earlier signalled his readiness by setting a season-best 9.83sec in the semifinals.
“I was trying to get me a ticket on that boat going to Rio,” a delighted Gatlin said afterwards. “My family has a ticket and that put pressure on me to punch my ticket.”
He confirmed he will not race again before Rio after running in the 200m at this week’s trials.
Asked if he had a message for injured Jamaican rival Bolt, Gatlin smiled and gave a thumbs up. “I don’t know how you print this – but you can print that. Emoji thumb,” he joked.
Gatlin’s season-best time was matched in the women’s 400m by Felix, who kept her dream of an Olympic 200 and 400 double alive with a gutsy victory hailed by her coach Bob Kersee as her best ever.
Felix, who has been hampered by an ankle injury following a freak training accident in April, surged home down the stretch to win in 49.68sec, the fastest time in the world this year.
The 30-year-old from Los Angeles is aiming to become only the third woman after Valerie Brisco-Hooks of the US in 1984 and Marie-Jose Perec of France in 1996 to have won the 200m and 400m in the same Games.
“I don’t even think I can put it into words,” said Felix. “Two months ago I couldn’t even walk so to be here and still have everything come together, I don’t know it happened.
“I just know that I had an amazing team of people that didn’t let me face it alone.”
Felix had been in fifth coming off the final curve before finding an extra gear to pull away.
“I didn’t even know where I was, I just gave it everything I had,” said Felix, the Olympic 200m champion and 400m world champion.