Athletics-Kerley, Jefferson emerge as U.S. best 100m hopes, McLaughlin
unstoppable on hurdles
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 [June 28, 2022]
(Reuters) - Olympic silver
medallist Fred Kerley and Melissa Jefferson lead the United States'
hopes in the 100 metres when the world championships kick off next
month, with superstar record-holder Sydney McLaughlin unstoppable in
the 400 metres hurdles.
Kerley won the U.S. championship final in a dominant 9.77 seconds,
after setting a world-leading time of 9.76 in the semi-final stage
in Eugene, Oregon, and said he was targeting eight-time Olympic gold
medallist Usain Bolt's record of 9.58.
He can expect a challenge from compatriot and reigning title-holder
Christian Coleman, who returned to action in January from an
18-month suspension for breaching anti-doping whereabouts rules and
produced a solid 10.87 in the semi-final.
The top three finishers in Eugene, who met certain qualifying
standards, and reigning global title-holders advanced to the first
world championships to be held in the United States at the same
track, starting on July 15.
Kerley also qualified for the 200 metres.
Jefferson, who stunned the women's final in a scorching, wind-aided
10.69, faces the threat of twice double Olympic sprint champion
Elaine Thompson-Herah and reigning world champion Shelly-Ann
Fraser-Pryce, both of Jamaica.
"I'm ready for any challenge and anything that may come my way," she
said.
Tokyo relay silver medallist Aleia Hobbs, who went into the race the
favourite, finished second.
In the 200 metres, world title-holder Noah Lyles showed no interest
in yielding his throne to teen sensation Erriyon Knighton in the
final, while collegiate champion Abby Steiner briefly seized the
world lead in 21.77 before Shericka Jackson bested the mark at
Jamaica's trials.
'GREAT INDICATOR'
McLaughlin made the extraordinary seem mundane - again - when she
broke her own world record in the 400 metres hurdles world record
with 51.41 in the final Saturday, despite having little threat in
the field to push her to the finish.
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Fred Kerley runs in a 200m heat during the USA Championships at
Hayward Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Her chief rival, current world title-holder Dalilah Muhammad,
appears to be the only one who could mount a challenge next month
but was absent from the national championships.
"This is just a great indicator of where we are and hopefully
(we're) going to go home and work on some things," she said.
On the men's side, world and Olympic silver medallist Rai Benjamin
set up another potential showdown with Norwegian world record-holder
Karsten Warholm, producing a world-leading 47.04, even after
COVID-19 and tendonitis kept him off the track since May.
Devon Allen, who produced the all-time third-fastest 110-metres
hurdles performance in New York earlier this month, struggled far
more on Sunday, clinching his spot at worlds by just three
thousandths of a second in 13.09, enough to set up a showdown with
reigning champion Grant Holloway.
In the women's 100 metres hurdles, world record-holder Kendra
Harrison won in a world-leading 12.34 seconds.
Olympic champion Athing Mu once again proved worth the hype, as the
20-year-old survived a challenge from twice world bronze medallist
Ajee Wilson to win the 800 metres.
"I'm just going to take it day by day, race by race, I'm going to
put in some work these next couple of weeks," she said. "I'm ready
to fight, I'm ready to run fast and I'm ready to be a world
champion."
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
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