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Agence France-Presse

Justin Gatlin powered to victory in the 200 metres at the US Olympic trials on Saturday as hurdler Aries Merritt’s fairytale comeback from a kidney transplant ended in disappointment.
Gatlin, 34, won a blistering duel with LaShawn Merritt to complete a sprint double following his win in the 100m on the opening weekend at Hayward Field.
Gatlin crossed the line in 19.75 seconds, holding off a late burst from LaShawn Merritt who came home in 19.79sec.
The 2004 Olympic 100m champion later revealed he had been troubled by niggling injuries throughout the meet.

QUALIFIED! @justingatlin became the FIRST athlete to win️events at #TrackTown16!

️ https://t.co/5GPbIml0kC pic.twitter.com/GCHqmcconV
— U.S. Olympic Team (@TeamUSA) July 10, 2016

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“I’ve been dealing with ankle and quad injuries through this whole series of races,” Gatlin said.
“I just went out there and did what I had to do. My coach said ‘Just get out of the blocks, and stay out.’ “My eyes got big and I just kept running as hard as I could.”

In the women’s 200m, reigning Olympic champion Allyson Felix – who is chasing a 400m-200m double in Rio – shook off the rust to qualify for Sunday’s final.
Felix reached the final after finishing second in her semi behind Tori Bowie with a time of 22.57sec.
“Not as sharp as I’d like to be, but moving on,” Felix told reporters.
But while Felix is already looking ahead to a fourth Olympic games, sprint hurdler Aries Merritt was left reflecting on an agonising photo finish defeat in the final of the 110m hurdles.

Merritt, the reigning Olympic champion and world record holder over the distance, had defied medical logic by returning to track and field this season following his kidney transplant last September.
Yet though the 30-year-old clocked his fastest time of the season – 13.22sec – it was not enough to earn him a top three berth and a ticket to Rio.
Merritt later said he planned to protest but admitted that he would have little difficulty putting the disappointment into perspective.

“I came up a little bit short, I still feel that I was second or third so when it came up I was fourth I was shocked,” Merritt said.
“It’s hard not to go back to Rio. But in the circumstances I did the best I could. It’s a pity I’m not going to the Games because I know in six weeks time I’ll be in much better shape.

College football player turned track star! @DevonAllen13 is heading to RIO! #GoTeamUSA https://t.co/wQdVEmvdE7
— U.S. Olympic Team (@TeamUSA) July 10, 2016

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“But nothing could be worse than being told you’ll never run again, even if you come up a little bit short.”
Devon Allen won the event in 13.03 seconds from Ronnie Ash in second and Jeff Porter in third, a fraction ahead of Merritt.
Elsewhere on Saturday there was a dramatic win in the 5,000m for veteran Kenyan-American Bernard Lagat, who will now be heading to his fifth Olympic games at the age of 41.

DID YOU SEE THAT!?

41-year-old @Lagat1500 just WON the Men's 5000m at #TrackTown16! https://t.co/FwJlCya9Rn
— U.S. Olympic Team (@TeamUSA) July 10, 2016

<![CDATA[// ><!]]>

Lagat, a bronze medallist in the, 1,500m at the Sydney Olympics, rolled back the years with a tactical masterclass, kicking for home on the final straight to finish ahead of Hassan Mead and Paul Chelimo in 13 minutes 35.50 seconds.
“I train with young guys and I don’t believe I’m old,” Lagat said. “Because if you believe you’re old, you’re going to run like an old man. These young guys push me every single day.
“What you saw today is what we do in training every day. This was my sixth Olympic trials and out of the six I’ve made five. This is my greatest achievement.”

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Rio 2016 Olympic Games

Double delight: Justin Gatlin powers to victory in 200 metres at US Olympic Games Trials

Justin Gatlin celebrates his win in the men's 200 meres at the US Olympic Track and Field Trials. Photo: AP

EUGENE, OR - JULY 09: Justin Gatlin, first place, Ameer Webb, third place, and LaShawn Merritt, second place finish in the Men's 200 Meter Final during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on July 9, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Jul 9, 2016; Eugene, OR, USA; Candyce McGrone (left) and Tori Bowie (middle) and Allyson Felix (right) compete during the women's 200m semifinals in the 2016 U.S. Olympic track and field team trials at Hayward Field. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Andrews-USA TODAY Sports

Jul 8, 2016; Eugene, OR, USA; Aries Merritt (left) and Issac Williams (right) compete during the men’s 1100m hurdles first round heats in the 2016 U.S. Olympic track and field team trials at Hayward Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Usain Bolt beats Justin Gatlin in 100-metre world championship final

Gatlin and Gay from the US and Bolt of Jamaica compete in the men's 100m final during the 15th IAAF World Championships at the National Stadium in Beijing. Photo: Reuters

Heading for showdown: Justin Gatlin sprints to second China win at IAAF World Challenge  

Justin Gatlin powers to the line in the men’s 100m final of the IAAF World Challenge. Photo: EPA

epa05314816 Veronica Campbell Brown of Jamaica (C) in action during the Women's 200m final of the IAAF World Challenge, at the Beijing National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, Beijing, China, 18 May 2016. EPA/WU HONG

Jamaica's sprinter Usain Bolt pose for a photo during children track and field meeting on May 18, 2016 in Prague. Bolt arrived to Czech Republic to attend a Golden Spike meeting in Ostrava on Friday, May 20, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Michal Cizek

TOPSHOT - Aries Merritt of the US competes during the men's 110m hurdles final at the IAAF World Challenge at the National Olympic Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, in Beijing on May 18, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / NICOLAS ASFOURI

epa05314719 Justin Gatlin of the USA poses for photographs after winning the Men's 100m final of the IAAF World Challenge, at the Beijing National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, Beijing, China, 18 May 2016. EPA/WU HONG

TOPSHOT - Justin Gatlin of the US (C) uses a mobile phone to take a picture with fans as he celebrates after winning the men's 100m final at the IAAF World Challenge held at the National Olympic Stadium or 'Birds Nest' in Beijing on May 18, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / WANG ZHAO

Majd Eddin Ghazal of Syria celebrates during the men's high jump final at the IAAF World Challenge at the National Olympic Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, in Beijing on May 18, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / NICOLAS ASFOURI

'Bad guy' tag doesn't bother me: Justin Gatlin before World Championships 

American sprinter Justin Gatlin is hungry as ever to secure gold at the World Championships in Beijing, which start today. Photo: EPA


In Eugene, Oregon, Justin Gatlin runs to victory in the men's 200 metre race in June. Photo: AFP

Justin Gatlin takes a selfie after winning the 100m men's race  at the Herculis International Athletics Meeting at the Louis II Stadium in Monaco on July 17. Photo: AP 

Sport

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Gatlin, 34, won a blistering duel with LaShawn Merritt to complete a sprint double following his win in the 100m on the opening weekend at Hayward Field


Double delight: Justin Gatlin powers to victory in 200 metres at US Olympic Games Trials

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Gatlin, 34, won a blistering duel with LaShawn Merritt to complete a sprint double following his win in the 100m on the opening weekend at Hayward Field

Gatlin, 34, won a blistering duel with LaShawn Merritt to complete a sprint double following his win in the 100m on the opening weekend at Hayward Field