LaShawn Merritt ran the fastest 200 metres in the world this year and Brianna Rollins shocked American record holder Keni Harrison in a world class 100m hurdles final at the US Olympic trials on Friday. Merritt, already on the US team as the trials' 400m winner, sped through his semi-final in 19.74 seconds to set the stage for a Saturday showdown with world silver medallist Justin Gatlin, up-and-coming Ameer Webb and two teenagers.
A celebrating Rollins dominated the hurdles showdown, winning in 12.34 seconds as a stunned Harrison finished sixth to miss a trip to Rio. Olympic champions Allyson Felix and Aries Merritt, meanwhile, moved safely through qualifying in the 200 metres and 110 hurdles respectively on the often rainy day. LaShawn Merritt would not say whether he, like Felix, would try for the 200-400m double in Rio. But he appeared ready if he makes the team in the 200.
"I got some rest and went to work," said the 2008 400m Olympic gold medallist who holds the fastest times in the world this year in the 200 and 400. Webb also dipped under 20 seconds (19.97 seconds) with former world champion Tyson Gay (20.16) and teenager Michael Norman (20.21) ahead of Gatlin (20.23). Another teen, Noah Lyles (20.26), trailed Gatlin. "I'll rise to the occasion, when it is time," said Gatlin, who praised the semi-final winning teenagers.
"They are good. They could run with us on the Diamond League," said the 32-year-old. "They came out to be giant killers." Of Merritt, Gatlin said: "He's been in 19 (second) shape since May. He will be ready." Rollins certainly was. The former US record holder showed she was not about to yield the 100m hurdles mantle to Harrison, who until the race appeared the odds-on favorite for Rio.