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Justin Gatlin sets world-leading time to win US trials 200m final
Justin Gatlin became the fifth-fastest 200m runner in history as he won Sunday’s final at the American Athletics Championships.
The 33-year-old American, who has served two doping bans, recorded a time of 19.57 seconds in Oregon.
It bettered the 19.68 secs he ran in May which, at that stage, was the best in the world.
“I wanted to go out and make a statement, and that’s what I did,” Gatlin said.
Gatlin has been the dominant sprinter in 2015, having also achieved the quickest time in the 100m (9.74 secs).
Fastest men over 200m |
|---|
| Usain Bolt 19.19 seconds |
| Yohan Blake 19.26 secs |
| Michael Johnson 19.32 secs |
| Walter Dix 19.53 secs |
| Justin Gatlin 19.57 secs |
He will go up against 100m and 200m world-record holder Usain Bolt in both events at August’s World Championships in Beijing.
In a race run in a legal wind of 0.4 metres per second, Gatlin finished ahead of Isiah Young (19.93 secs) and Wallace Spearmon (20.10 secs).
BBC Sports