DES MOINES, United States, July 27, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Christian Coleman
swept to victory in the 100 metres at the US championships on Friday, booking
his place at this year’s World Championships with a commanding performance.
Coleman, who had comfortably outpaced world champion Justin Gatlin to win
his semi-final in 9.96sec, led virtually from start to finish in the final at
Drake Stadium to win in 9.99sec.
Gatlin, who had already been guaranteed a place at the World Championships
through his 2017 gold medal, elected to skip the final after his semi-final
loss.
That left the field clear for the stocky Coleman, who stormed out of the
blocks and rapidly put clear daylight between himself and the rest of the
field.
Michael Rodgers was a distant second in 10.12sec while Christopher Belcher
was third.
It was a satisfying win for Coleman, the fastest man in the world this year
over 100m with a season-leading 9.81sec.
The 23-year-old will now head to the World Championships in Doha as the man
to beat in the blue riband sprinting event.
“It feels great,” Coleman said. “The whole goal throughout the year was to
make the team. The mission’s not over.
“I came into the year wanting to win a gold medal in Doha, and this was
just a step on the way to get there.”
– Celebratory milkshake –
In the women’s 100m final, rookie professional Teahna Daniels powered to an
upset victory in 11.20sec.
The 22-year-old from Texas got off to a smooth start and accelerated into
the lead at around halfway to pip 2016 Olympics gold medallist English
Gardner for first.
Gardner finished second in 11.25sec while Morolake Akinosun was third in
11.28.
But there was disappointment for Sha’Carri Richardson, the third fastest
woman in the world over 100m, who bombed out of contention and finished last.
Daniels, who only turned professional this week, meanwhile said she owed
her dazzling form in Des Moines to a diet that has seen her shed 19 pounds
(8.61kg) since the turn of the year.
“Losing weight was a major thing for me,” said Daniels. “It’s been a long,
long journey. I had to dedicate myself to be in the best shape I could be.
“I’m a power runner but I knew with that extra fat it’s just not going to
work,” added Daniels, who was planning to celebrate her victory with a burger
and a milkshake.
– Felix into final –
Elsewhere on Friday, Allyson Felix dug deep to force her way into
Saturday’s women’s 400m final with a typically defiant display.
Felix, the only female track and field athlete to win six Olympic gold
medals, had struggled through her opening heat on Thursday with a fourth
place finish.
However the 33-year-old ran a clever tactical race in her semi-final on
Friday, finishing strong to come home third with a time of 51.45sec.
That mark is still well outside Felix’s personal best of 49.26sec set in
2015, but the American star, who was racing in Iowa this week for the first
time in 13 months after taking a year off to give birth to her baby daughter,
was happy to reach the final.
“I haven’t raced in so long I’m just trying to use the rounds to feel
myself and where I’m at,” Felix said.”It feels good to give myself a shot.
“It’s such a different mindset this time around. I don’t think I could ever
say before it feels good to be in a final.
“But I just have to keep reminding myself what I’ve been through this year
and just take one day at a time,” added Felix, who gave birth via an
emergency C-section in November.