Sport
Americans Gatlin, Gay ready to face Jamaican sprinters, Bolt, Blake in London
Walter Dix, the 2008 Olympic bronze medalist and 2011 world runner-up, was eighth in the final in 10.95 after straining a left leg muscle in the earlier semi-finals, an injury that could hinder his hopes in next week’s 200.
“I don’t think it’s that bad,” Dix said. “I’ve got a couple days to recover. We will see.”
Former world champion Sanya Richards-Ross, aiming for a 200-400 double at London, secured the first part of her bid by winning the 400 meters in 49.28.
The Jamaican-born sprint star, who became a US citizen in 2002, lowered her own 2012 world-best time by .11 of a second with a time that was the fastest in the world since 2009.
“With 40 meters to go, my only thought was, ‘I’m going to have a chance to represent the USA in my third Olympics,” she said. “It’s a dream come true. You can’t really think about it until you get past this moment.”
Reigning 400m Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt, who served a 21-month doping ban but won a legal fight for his chance to compete at London, qualified to defend his crown by winning in 44.12 seconds, lowering his own 2012 world best.
“It was not a perfect race,” Merritt said. “If it takes 43 seconds to win in London, I’m willing to go there. It’s not going to be my first rodeo so I’m going to go in there confident.”
