AFP, Sacramento :
Rising sprint star Christian Coleman cruised through to the semi-finals of the 100m at the US World Championship trials on Thursday, ducking under the 10-second barrier as fastest qualifier.
The 21-year-old prodigy from the University of Tennessee shrugged off searing heat at Sacramento’s Hornet Stadium to clock a brisk 9.93sec.
Coleman already owns the fastest time in the world this year over 100m, scorching to 9.82sec at the US collegiate championships.
“I felt pretty good. I just wanted to come out here and get through the rounds and execute and do the best I can,” said Coleman, who eased up significantly in the closing stages of an easy win.
“I feel like I still have something,” he added.
Isiah Young was second fastest in qualifying, clocking 9.97sec while evergreen veteran Justin Gatlin shrugged off niggling injuries that have disrupted his season to be third quickest in 10.00 sec.
“Track is fast,” said Gatlin. “It’s a surreal time for me. This is the most injured I’ve ever been but I’m just fighting through man.”
But there was an early exit for another veteran, Tyson Gay.
The 34-year-old American record holder is competing in Sacramento just eight months after the shooting death of his teenage daughter in October last year.
Gay, who has dedicated this season to his daughter’s memory, could only finish third in his heat in a time of 10.17sec, 15th overall.
In the women’s 100m, US track queen Allyson Felix made a rare appearance over the shortest sprint distance to advance in 11.03sec.
Felix, who is already assured of a place in the US team for London by virtue of her status as the reigning world 400m champion, is using the 100m and 200m in Sacramento to improve her speed.
Rising sprint star Christian Coleman cruised through to the semi-finals of the 100m at the US World Championship trials on Thursday, ducking under the 10-second barrier as fastest qualifier.
The 21-year-old prodigy from the University of Tennessee shrugged off searing heat at Sacramento’s Hornet Stadium to clock a brisk 9.93sec.
Coleman already owns the fastest time in the world this year over 100m, scorching to 9.82sec at the US collegiate championships.
“I felt pretty good. I just wanted to come out here and get through the rounds and execute and do the best I can,” said Coleman, who eased up significantly in the closing stages of an easy win.
“I feel like I still have something,” he added.
Isiah Young was second fastest in qualifying, clocking 9.97sec while evergreen veteran Justin Gatlin shrugged off niggling injuries that have disrupted his season to be third quickest in 10.00 sec.
“Track is fast,” said Gatlin. “It’s a surreal time for me. This is the most injured I’ve ever been but I’m just fighting through man.”
But there was an early exit for another veteran, Tyson Gay.
The 34-year-old American record holder is competing in Sacramento just eight months after the shooting death of his teenage daughter in October last year.
Gay, who has dedicated this season to his daughter’s memory, could only finish third in his heat in a time of 10.17sec, 15th overall.
In the women’s 100m, US track queen Allyson Felix made a rare appearance over the shortest sprint distance to advance in 11.03sec.
Felix, who is already assured of a place in the US team for London by virtue of her status as the reigning world 400m champion, is using the 100m and 200m in Sacramento to improve her speed.
