Sean Larson
Sean is a senior at the University of Oregon majoring in journalism. He has lived in every region of the country, most recently in San Francisco before coming to Eugene for school. He can be reached via email (larson3@uoregon.edu) and you can follow him on Twitter. (@SeanALarson)
Felix Wins 200 Meter Final in Third Fastest Time in American History
There would be no dead heat between Allyson Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh this time. Felix guaranteed her spot in the US Olympic team in London with a dominating performance in the 200 meter final, winning in 21.69 seconds. The time was a new lifetime best for Felix, as well as the third fastest time in American history.
Allyson Felix celebrates a first place finish in the women’s 200m at Hayward Field.
“I was thrilled with my race,” said Felix. “I feel like everything came together, I’m just blessed to make the team.”
Felix and Tarmoh lined up side by side in the final, and all eyes were on the pair to see how close they could finish to each other this time. When Felix came off the Bowerman Curve however, Tarmoh was nowhere to be found up front, as she finished fifth in 22.35. Tarmoh will now have to hope she wins either the coin-toss or run-off that will be used in order to decide the dead heat in the 100 meter final between her and Felix.
Also earning spots on the Olympic team in the 200 was Carmelita Jeter (2nd in 22.11) and Sanya Richards-Ross (3rd in 22.22). Richards-Ross attested her success this season to her health.
“I think last season I was coming off with an injury,” said Richards-Ross. “The difference this year was that I was 100% healthy. I really wanted to be apart of this team and I am looking forward to London.”
Three more sprinters also punched their ticket to London in the men’s 110 meter hurdles final. Aries Merritt used the quickest reaction time of the race to win in 12.93 seconds, edging out Jason Richardson by five-hundreths of a second, who came in second with a time of 12.98 seconds. Jeffrey Porter snagged the final spot on the team, finishing third in 13.08 seconds.
“I felt like the race was pretty good,” said Merritt. “I had a great start and I’m a build hurudler, I get faster as I go. I fulfilled my dream today.”
The women’s heptathlon also wrapped up on Saturday. Hyleas Fountain had a good star to the day, winning the long jump and ultimately taking first with 6,419 points. Sharon Day used top three finishes in all of the day’s events to finish second in the two-day event with 6,343 points. Chantae McMillan rounded out the top three, finishing with 6,188 points.
Hyleas Fountain celebrates a successful high jump in the Women’s Heptathlon in Beijing 2008.
“My goal was to finish the meet and then go to London and get on the podium there,” said Fountain. “I’m blessed too be with these women and go to London.”
McMillan earned her spot on the team thanks to setting new lifetime bests in five of the seven events.
“I PRed and 100 hurdles, shot put, javelin, the 200m and the 800m,” said McMillan. “I just wanted to give it my all.”
The trials conclude on Sunday with an afternoon packed full of finals. The day starts at 2:45 pm with the women’s javelin throw.
The first final on the track will be the 400 meter hurdles at 4:02 pm, followed by the 1,500 meter finals.
The day will wrap up with the men’s 200 meter final at 4:50 pm, immediately followed by the closing ceremonies.
