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Justin Gatlin, Trey Hardee outshine youngsters at USATF Outdoor Championships

Published by
DyeStat.com   Jun 24th 2017, 8:43am
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Gatlin, Hardee win titles, not ready to step aside just yet

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

SACRAMENTO -- Justin Gatlin showed that there is still some life in his legs and Trey Hardee isn't done piecing together top-tier decathlons.

Even though there is a youth movement happening at this year's USATF Outdoor Championships, a couple of grizzled veterans displayed pride and talent that is not ready to exit the scene.

Gatlin, who won his Olympic gold medal in the 100-meter dash 13 years ago, edged out protege Christian Coleman in a stirring final, 9.95 to 9.98.

"It was a fighting moment," Gatlin said. "It wasn't like the spectacular times I've run in recent years but it was a time when I needed to fight."

Gatlin said he listened to the long list of accomplishments that the stadium announcer used to introduce him and was touched by them. But he also knows that he's not quite done.

"At this point in my career I'm balancing accomplishment and hunger," he said.

The five-time Olympic medalist said that if someone were to portray him in a movie about his life that Coleman would fit the bill perfectly. Gatlin, a former Tennessee Vol, sees Coleman as a younger version of himself.

Coleman, Tennessee’s NCAA champion in the 100 and 200, was on the U.S. Olympic team last year, but only on the relay. He signed a lucrative deal with Nike in the past week that is said to be seven figures, although Coleman coyly deflected confirming that. He did say the contract he signed was for three years.

Hardee, who was injured in 2016 and went Rio to serve as a broadcaster rather than an athlete, was feeling good enough to hold off 2016 Olympian Zach Ziemek by 70 points over the two-day decathlon, 8,225 to 8,155 points. Georgia's NCAA runner-up Devon Williams was third with 8,131.

The retirement of two-time Olympic champion, and mostly healed injury to his foot (a torn plantar tendon), re-opened a window for Hardee to win the USATF decathlon for the fourth time. This one was special because his infant daughter was able to be there and pose for photos.

“I never went anywhere, so I’m not back,” Hardee joked. “I’m just old.”

Hardee believes he has enough tricks up his sleeve, and enough reliable athleticism, to be a dark horse for a medal this summer in London.

“I’m dangerous,” Hardee said. “I’ve still got some pop. I’m a snake in the grass right now. No one really knows what to expect.”

The end of Friday’s session brought the meet’s highlight so far, when Paul Chelimo dashed out to an early lead in the 5,000 meters and pushed himself to break the USATF Championships meet record by four seconds. Chelimo, who represents the U.S. Army, crossed the finish line to appreciative applause in 13:08.62 and promptly turned to the crowd and saluted.

Chelimo talked afterward of competing with the desire of a soldier and said his mission is to improve from last year’s silver medal in Rio to gold in London.

Chelimo went out in 60 seconds and ran the faster than everyone else in the race until the bell. By that point, victory was his and the competition for the second and third spot on the U.S. team ramped up and sorted itself out. Eric Jenkins, fourth in the 2016 Olympic Trials, closed in 54.06 to secure second place in 13:15.74. Ryan Hill ran 54.76 to claim third in 13:16.99.

In the men’s triple jump, Will Claye put on a show even though his main rival did little more than show up. Claye jumped 58-9.25 (17.91m) for a lifetime best on his fifth attempt and moved to No. 4 all-time on the U.S. list.

Christian Taylor, who has the Diamond League Wild Card (an auto berth to the World Championships) was compelled by the rules to appear and compete in the U.S. Championships. He met the minimum of standards, recording one foul and passing the rest of his attempts.

Paralympian Blake Leeper made history by competing in the men’s 400 meters semifinal and running 45.25 seconds. The double amputee broke the Paralympic T-43 category world record. He had been 17th after the first round but was given a spot in the semifinals when someone above him withdrew.

Leeper, the Paralympic gold medalist last summer, didn’t know that he would be able to compete in Sacramento until Tuesday when he was notified that he was on the start list.

“Looking at the bigger picture, I made the semifinals and broke the world record today,” he said. “It is hard to believe. Two or three days ago, I wasn’t even running. I missed my first meets of the season (due to a suspension). To run 45.5 and 45.25 to break the world record, I am excited for the futrure.”



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