In perhaps the U. S A’s most competitive event this season, the women’s 200 meters lived up to the billing in parity. Recent NCAA star from the University of Oregon, Deajah Stevens demonstrated her strength with a final kick in the final 30 meters of the race to pass (the world leader) Tori Bowie, Kimberlyn Duncan and the majority of the field to take the U.S. title in 22.30, against a -2.5 headwind. Duncan, was second in 22.59 and Bowie, who was the favorite heading into the race, faded to third in 22.60. Allyson Felix also qualified for the 200-meter final, however, she withdrew right before the race.
Christian Coleman was beaten this time by 2016 Rio Olympian Ameer Webb who won on line, running 20.09 to the former’s 20.10. Elijah Hall-Thompson was third in 20.21. Neither Justin Gatlin, LaShawn Merritt nor Tyson Gay qualified for the 200-meter final. Gatlin decided to simply focus on the 100 meters this season.
In the men’s 400 meter hurdles, although Trinidadian & Trinidad and Tobago’s born Olympic Champion Kerron Clement faded to seventh, he will still represent the U.S. in London via his Diamond League championship last year. He will join young hurdlers Eric Futch, Michael Stigler and TJ Holmes.
In the women’s 400 meter hurdles, all three of the qualifiers ran sub-53 second times. Led by reigning Olympic Champion Dalilah Muhammad’s 52.64, Shamir Little and Kori Carter both ran personal bests of 52.75 and 52.95. Muhammad and Little’s times are the 6th and 9th fastest in history, respectively. Also, prodigy Sydney McLaughlin’s 6th place 53.82 is another age world record, destroying her previous World Junior record of 54.03.
