Bernard Lagat won this one for his kids. He failed to qualify for the world championships previous year, the first time he had missed out while competing for America.
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In addition to the outdoor 5,000, Lagat is also the American record-holder in the indoor 1,500, mile, two-mile and 5,000 as well as the outdoor 1,500 and 3,000 distances.
Merritt, the 400-meter trials champion, hasn’t decided whether he will attempt a double in Rio.
Running wide, Lagat emerged out of the chaos to surge into the lead for good in the final 60 meters, making good on a promise to his daughter, Gianna, age 7.
Bernard Lagat clocked a 52.82 last lap en route to winning the U.S. 5000m title on Saturday (July 9) to secure his spot for his fifth Olympic Games.
“If you believe you’re old, you’re going to run like an old guy. If I make it, I’m going'”. I was thinking to myself we have one, two, three, five people ahead of me.
Looking ahead earlier this week to the possibility of racing in Rio, Merritt said: “If I was to win, it would be ugly – I’d be on the track crying somewhere, because of all the pain, all the suffering, all the depression I went through to get to this point”. And Richardson won’t get a chance to defend his silver.
In the 110-meter hurdles, OR wide receiver Devon Allen won over Ronnie Ash and Jeff Porter, who are also are headed to Rio. The trio will represent the United States in the Rio Games.
Gatlin won the 200m final in 19.75 seconds. “I come into the finals today seeded 12th after Thursday (prelims)”.
“The 200 is still a little foreign to me, but I know that I’m fast and strong, so I figured I can handle it”, Merritt said.
►Will Claye bested former Florida teammate and reigning Olympic and world champion Christian Taylor in the triple jump, leaping 57 feet, 11 inches on his fifth jump.
Bernard Lagat didn’t finish his 10,000-meter race on Day 1 of the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials over a week ago. Gatlin won the gold at the 2004 Olympic Games in the 100 and the bronze in the 200.
QUOTABLE: “Don’t mean to brag, but we’re pretty extraordinary”, Lyles, after he and fellow 18-year-old Norman won their heats in the 200-meter semifinals.
“My coaches said to get out and stay out”, Gatlin said in a post-race interview.
Justin Gatlin, who last week won the 100m at the trials, edged out 400m victor LaShawn Merritt for first place in the 200m race in Eugene, Oregon. But Lagat eventually caught Rupp and held off the rest of the challengers to win in 13:35.5.
Hassan Mead finished second with a time of 13:38.70, while Paul Chelimo placed third in 13:35.92.
Rupp has a pair of consolation prizes, victories in the Olympic Trials marathon and 10,000 meters.
QUALIFICATION ALERT: Bernard Lagat made his fifth and most unexpected Olympics by winning the 5,000-meter final at track trials.
Already, there are three 20-and-under track-and-field athletes heading to Rio – Vashti Cunningham, Keturah Orji and Trayvon Bromell – with 16-year-old Sydney McLaughlin trying for a 400-hurdles spot Sunday.
Felix finished her semifinal in 22.57 seconds.3 behind Tori Bowie, but still safely in second.
Also in Sunday’s final: Deajah Stevens, Jenna Prandini, Gabrielle Thomas, Ariana Washington, Tiffany Townsend and Jeneba Tarmoh.
►In the women’s javelin, Maggie Malone of Texas A&M claimed the USA title with a throw of 199 feet, 7 inches. Javelin sent the first, third and fourth-place finishers Maggie Malone, Kara Winger and Brittany Borman because second-place finisher Hannah Carson didn’t have an Olympic qualifying mark.
VFL Aries Merritt continued his incredible comeback from kidney surgery with an impressive showing in the men’s 110-meter hurdles on Saturday.
Allen, a crowd favorite at Oregon’s Hayward Field, said he’d try and relax in the 90 minutes between races.
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World silver medallist Gatlin eased through qualifying, finishing only eighth as Merritt, Walter Dix and Tyson Gay also made it through the 200 meters opening round.
