CARSON, California, 28 June 2005 — Kerron Clement ran the seventh-fastest 400 meters hurdles in history and Olympic 100 meters gold medalist Justin Gatlin completed a sprint double on the final day of action at the US championships on Sunday.
The 19-year-old Clement, who broke Michael Johnson’s indoor 400 meters world record in March, pulled away from Bershawn Jackson approaching the final hurdle to cross the line in 47.24 seconds.
The time was the fastest in the event in seven years. “It was perfect,” the Trinidad-born Clement said.
“It was the first time this year I didn’t chop my steps.”
Jackson finished second in 47.80 seconds and James Carter claimed third in 48.03 seconds in the meeting, which served as the American trials for August’s world championships in Helsinki.
Gatlin clocked 20.04 seconds into a headwind to win the 200 meters and become the first man to complete the sprint double at the US championships in 20 years.
“I want to continue to do the same thing in Helsinki,” said Gatlin, who predicted a US sweep in the event at the worlds.
Gatlin had won the 100 meters in 10.08 seconds on Saturday, one day after officials reinstated him in the event following his disqualification for a false start in the preliminaries.Tyson Gay took second in 20.06 seconds and Olympic champion Shawn Crawford, who is experiencing foot problems, grabbed the final US team berth with a third-place finish in 20.12 seconds.
The top three finishers in each event qualify for the world championships.
“This whole track meet has been like a disaster for me,” said Crawford, who took second in the 100 meters.
“I lost both of my events, and I hate losing,” he added. “And I don’t feel fine.”
Olympic silver medalist Allyson Felix won the women’s 200 meters in a life-time best of 22.13 seconds, also the fastest time in the world this year.
Rachelle Smith was almost a tenth of a second behind in 22.22 seconds and US Olympic trials 100 meters champion LaTasha Colander was third in 22.34 seconds.
Michelle Perry, a heptathlete who turned to the hurdles, defeated Olympic champion Joanna Hayes in the women’s 100 meters hurdles. Perry clocked 12.66 seconds for the victory with Hayes taking second in 12.77 seconds.
Perry had run even faster in the semifinals, clocking a season-leading 12.43 seconds.
Christian Cantwell won the shot put at 21.64 meters with Olympic silver medalist Adam Nelson second in 21.52 meters.
