Four impressive Americans at the Prefontaine Classic

The Prefontaine Classic provided impressive wins for several American athletes, including Allyson Felix (200), Sanya Richards-Ross (400), LaShawn Merritt (400) and Justin Gatlin (100).  With less than three weeks to go for theUSnational trials, these athletes have clearly begun to separate themselves for the pack. Here are a few takeaways from the Prefontaine Classic. Allyson Felix looks very good. Felix used her recently discovered speed and ran an even race by taking control coming off the curve to stop the clock at 22.23 seconds in the women’s 200m. Felix was very satisfied with her win and commented in post-race interview that “there are a few things that she needs to tweak heading into the US Trials.” Felix is in the midst of a breakout season, in which she set personal best of 10.92 seconds in the 100m. She has improved the start of her race and with her strength, she should not only make the USteam but should challenge for the gold in London. Jeneba Tarmoh (22.61) finished in second ahead of Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare (22.63). Carmelita Jeter was 5^th in 22.78 seconds. Sanya Richards-Ross has the heart of a champion Yesterday Richards-Ross ran a tactical race and pulled away from Amantle Montsho (Botswana) and Novlene Williams-Mills (Jamaica) to win the women’s 400m in a world-leading 49.39 seconds. Montsho was second in 49.62 seconds while Williams-Mills was third in 49.78 seconds. Richards-Ross who was beaten by Williams-Mills at the Jamaica Invitational on May 5^thused her strength to overpower Montsho and Williams-Mills in the home-stretch.  In the post-race interview Richards-Ross said the victory was a confidence-builder for her heading into the trials. Merritt will not easily give up Olympic crown to King James After being soundly defeated by the then 18-year-old Grenadian Kirani James at the Daegu world championship last year, Merritt is more focused on defending his Olympic title.  All of his races so far this season, have been a training exercise to achieve that goal. Yesterday at the Prefontaine Classic, Merritt repelled the challenges of James in the final 30m to win the men’s 400m in 44.91 ahead of James. James was disqualified for a false start violation and was running under protest. Merritt has been undefeated in the 400m this season and has the world-leading 44.19 seconds for this event. Justin Gatlin determined to prevent Jamaican sweep in men’s 100m Earlier in the season, the focus was on the Jamaican trio of Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake and Asafa Powell for the top spots in the 100m with Powell stating at a press conference that a Jamaican sweep is most likely inLondon. But Gatlin has taken offense to Powell’s statement and after beating Powell in a close race in Doha(9.87 vs. 9.88), dismissed him by calling him (Powell)  a runner and not a competitor, Gatlin has taken his displeasure  to the man himself, Usain Bolt and has stated that he will be crashing the “Bolt Party” in London.  Gatlin is backing up his intent by running an impressive 9.90 seconds in the 100m at the Pre Classic yesterday. Only Bolt (9.76) and Blake (9.84) has ran faster than Gatlin this season.  Gatlin is also coming off an impressive indoor season where he won the World indoor 60m title.