EUGENE, USA – Six World leads on Sunday’s third day at US Olympic Trials. Hot off the heels of Elaine Thompson’s 10.70secs victory at the Jamaican Trials, English Gardner confirmed her excellent shape by winning the 100m at the American Olympic Trials in a wind-legal 10.74 ahead of world long jump champion Tianna Bartoletta (10.78) and Tori Bowie (10.78).
Bartoletta was given second by 0.003. Morolake Akinosun (10.95) and Jenna Prandini (10.96) also broke the 11-second mark although the latter was tipped to make the top three after posting a wind-aided 10.81 in the heats. Top 4 clocked Pb´s.
There were also fast times in the semi-finals but they were all wind-aided: Bowie 10.74, Gardner 10.74, Bartoletta 10.79, Prandini 10.86.
In the men’s 100m, Justin Gatlin came good in Eugene with his two fastest times of the year so far. The 2004 Olympic champion clocked 9.83 in the semi-finals before winning the final in 9.80 ahead of Trayvon Bromell (9.84 equaled PB) and Marvin Bracy (9.98).
Seasoned campaigners Mike Rodgers (9.98) and Tyson Gay (10.00) were fourth and fifth respectively. In semis, Christian Coleman ran a personal best 9.95.
The long jump final was accompanied by a strong tailwind but the standard was excellent with Damarcus Simpson only placing eighth despite jumping 8.12m. Jeff Henderson claimed the title with 8.59m (2.9) ahead of Jarrion Lawson (also seventh in the 100m final in 10.07) whose best mark of 8.58m was wind-legal WL and PB and Will Claye 8.42m.
Marquis Dendy also jumped 8.42 PB but Claye had already jumped 8.38m and prevailed on countback.
LaShawn Merritt won the 400m in a world-leading 43.97 ahead of Gil Roberts (44.73) and David Verburg (44.82) with fastest qualifier Tony McQuay only fifth in 45.30 while Allyson Felix eclipsed Shaunae Miller’s world-lead in the women’s 400m with victory in 49.68 ahead of Phyllis Francis (49.94 PB) and Natasha Hastings (50.17).
Ashton Eaton put together a solid second day to win the decathlon in a world-leading 8750 ahead of Jeremy Taiwo (8425 PB) and Zach Ziemek (8413 PB). Eaton’s second day: 13.60 110mH, 41.39m DT, 5.25m PV, 57.84m JT, 4:25.15 1500m.
Chaunte Lowe made her fourth Olympic team with her first 2m-plus jump in four years with 2.01 WL ahead of Vashti Cunningham (1.97 equaled outdoor US junior record) and Inika McPherson (1.93m).
