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Justin Gatlin holds off Christian Coleman to win U.S. title at 100

USA TODAY Sports
Justin Gatlin, left, edges Christian Coleman in the 100 final at the U.S. championships in Sacramento on Friday.

The baton has not yet been passed in American sprinting.

Veteran Justin Gatlin outdueled 21-year-old NCAA champ Christian Coleman to win the 100 meters on Friday at the U.S. track and field championships in Sacramento.

Gatlin won in 9.95 seconds, into a headwind. Coleman finished in 9.98, and Christopher Belcher was third at 10.06.

“These guys are just starting their career off,” said Gatlin, who’s been dealing with nagging quad/groin injuries. “I have to make sure I stay hungry.’”

Awaiting the trio in August, Jamaican Usain Bolt for the world championships in London.

“The sweet thing about it is there are two hungry guys who have no nervousness about (Bolt), and are hungry to make a name for themselves,” Gatlin said.

Gatlin proved he still has plenty left, too.

“He never lost it. He’s a good competitor,” Coleman said. “It was a good race. Looking forward to many more.”

It's the fourth U.S. title for Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic champion. In the process he handed his fellow former Tennessee Volunteer his only loss of the year.

Coleman, who has the top time in the world this year (9.82), has had a spectacular season, capturing a rare indoor-outdoor double at the NCAA championships, 100 and 200 outdoors and 60 and 200 indoors.

The last man to do that before Coleman? Gatlin in 2002.

Gatlin had not run a lot, nor had he run particularly fast, this season. But, as he has shown since he was a freshman at Tennessee in 2001, he knows how to peak at championship meets.

In the women's 100, Tori Bowie did what was expected, cruising to victory in 10.94, ahead of two Oregon Ducks stars, Deajah Stevens and Ariana Washington.

Allyson Felix finished eighth, but her focus at the world championships will be on the 400, where she has a bye.

Also Friday:

►Trey Hardee won his fourth U.S. championship in the decathlon, finishing with 8,255 points, ahead of Zach Ziemek (8,155) and Devon Williams (8,131). Though Hardee had spent much of the last year in the broadcast booth and struggling with injuries, he will be competing in his fifth world championships. He is a two-time world champion.

“Here’s the thing: I never went anywhere, so I’m not back. I’m just old,” Hardee said. “Officially, the 2017 U.S. champion in the decathlon is not retired.”

►Vashti Cunningham breezed to victory in the high jump, finishing with an outdoor personal best of 1.99 meters (6 feet, 6¼ inches). The 19-year-old won the world indoor championship last year and finished 13th in the Rio Olympics.

►Will Claye delivered a huge performance to win the triple jump, landing a personal best 17.91 meters (58-9¼). It makes him the No. 4 performer in U.S. history.

The reigning world and Olympic champ Christian Taylor took one jump, a foul, and then passed the rest of the way.

He was required by rules to compete at nationals, even though he has a bye into the worlds.

“It’s unfortunate, because for sure every time I come out to the track and compete, I want to put on a show. This time, I have to be smart. I want to wear the USA uniform and bring home a medal (in London). That’s what it’s really about,” Taylor said. He flew in from Amsterdam the night before.

►Shelby Houlihan kicked past Molly Huddle and then held off Shannon Rowbury in the home stretch to win the 5,000.

Huddle won the 10,000 on Thursday night. Rowbury also will try to make the team in the 1,500.

NCAA champ Karissa Schweizer of Missouri was fourth.

►Paul Chelimo, the silver medalist from Rio, breezed to victory in the 5,000. He broke the meet record, 13:08.62, while basically running a victory lap on the final lap of the race. He finished seven seconds clear of second-place Eric Jenkins. Ryan Hill finished third.

►World 400 leader Fred Kerley advanced comfortably to the final in a fast 44.11. 

►Clayton Murphy's shot at the double his still on. He advanced to Sunday's 800 final. He will race Saturday in the 1,500 final.

►In the loaded women's 800, all the key contenders advanced, led by Ajee Wilson, Brenda Martinez, Charlene Lipsey, Raevyn Rogers and Laura Roesler.

►A couple of 17-year-olds who just finished high school also advanced: Sammy Watson into the women's 800 final, and Sydney McLaughlin into the semifinals of the women's 400 hurdles.

Contributing: The Associated Press

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