Justin Gatlin Out-Leans LaShawn Merritt For 200m Olympic Trials Victory


EUGENE, Ore. - In a dramatic lean at the finish line, Justin Gatlin won the 200m final in the second fastest time in the world this year Saturday at Hayward Field. Out of lane eight, Gatlin beat world leader LaShawn Merritt with a winning time of 19.75 seconds. After winning the 400m title earlier in the week, Merritt finished second in 19.79 and was followed by Ameer Webb who closed for third in 20.00. (Below info Courtesy of NBCOlympics (http://liveextra.nbcsports.com) and USOC)




18-year-old Noah Lyles closed hard for fourth place and finally got a high school outdoor national record. The Florida commit from TC Williams High ran 20.09 for fourth place, breaking a 31-year-old national high school record and running one of the best American and world junior performances ever.


Lyles will probably not get to compete at the Olympic Games. After the race, 400m champion Merritt and 100m champion Gatlin both confirmed that they will likely double in Rio.