Author of a new world best performance of the year in 9.76, Fred Kerley, impressed again on Friday in Eugene (Oregon) by then winning the title of champion of the United States, positioning himself as the favorite for the World Athletics Championships .
The 27-year-old sprinter, who ran with an authorized wind of 1.4 m/sec, first erased in the semi-final the reference time of 9.83 he had achieved the day before in the heats, becoming the 6th best performer of history, alongside Trayvon Bromell and Christian Coleman. Among American sprinters, only Tyson Gay (9.69) and Justin Gatlin (9.74) ran faster than him.
The Olympic silver medalist in the 100 m then won the final in the barely slower time of 9.77, de facto punching his ticket for the World Championships organized on the same track at Hayward Field (July 15-24).
“My very good finish allowed me to cross the finish line first today”, commented the Olympic silver medalist in the 100m, confident nevertheless to “expect to be faster” and “aim for the Usain Bolt’s world record (9.58).
Marvin Bracey, second (9.85), and Trayvon Bromell, third (9.88) in a final run under ten seconds by all its participants, also qualified for next month’s meeting.
– La surprise Jefferson –
Christian Coleman was the only one not to take part, for no reason given, even though he had qualified with a time of 9.87 in the semi-finals.
The 26-year-old sprinter, who missed the Tokyo meeting last summer due to his 18-month suspension for breaches of his whereabouts obligations, is nevertheless automatically qualified for the Worlds as holder of the title, he who had been crowned in Doha in 2019.
Among the women, the straight line was also impressive, in the absence of Sha’Carri Richardson, who, to everyone’s surprise, failed the day before to qualify from the playoffs.
Third-year student Melissa Jefferson won in 10.69, by far her personal best time, two hundredths off the best performance of the year held by Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
“It’s crazy to do such a time. I thought I could do it one day, but here…”, she breathed, moved.
This time, which could have made her the sixth best performer in history, was however not approved due to too favorable a wind (2.9 m/sec).
– Felix on borrowed time –
The 21-year-old American nevertheless won her first national championship, beating Aleia Hobbs (10.72) and Twanisha Terry (10.74), who will also defend the American colors at the Worlds. A remarkable and unexpected performance from the one who finished eighth in the 100m at the university championships (NCAA) at the beginning of the month.
In the other events of the day, shot put master Ryan Crouser achieved the “MPM” with a throw of 23.12m (25cm from his world record), which logically qualifies him for the Worlds, of which he will seek a first coronation, he who finished 2nd in 2019 in Doha, between two Olympic coronations (2016, 2020).
Among the big names in their disciplines, Michael Norman in the 400m (44.28), Sydney McLaughlin in the 400m hurdles (52.90) and Athing Mu in the 800m (1:57.55) easily won their semi-finals.
As for Allyson Felix, she barely qualified for the 400 final, with the 7th time (51.32). The 36-year-old seven-time Olympic gold medalist will have to do better in the final on Saturday to participate in her eighth Worlds, before retiring from sport later this year.
“I just wanted to slip into this final and be ready (for the relay) if they need me,” she reacted.
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