EUGENE, Oregon — Moments after crossing the finish line, Justin Gatlin turned to his left and pointed at the clock to make sure everyone noticed what he just did. Hard to miss that time. Somewhere, a certain Jamaican sprinter is no doubt hearing about it, too.
Gatlin breezed to the 200-meter title at the US Championships in a meet-record 19.57 seconds Sunday. He dominated a race in which he had the lead coming off the turn. It was all over after that, given how he has been running lately and that his legs were feeling particularly fresh.
“I wanted to go out and make a statement and that's what I did today,” Gatlin said. “That's probably one of the best races I've had.”
Training partner Isiah Young was second, 0.36 seconds behind, and 30-year-old Wallace Spearmon third as he rounds back up to speed after sports hernia surgery.
In the women's 200, Oregon standout Jenna Prandini won in 22.20. Candyce McGrone was second and Jeneba Tarmoh third.
Gatlin shattered his previous best of 19.68, which he set last July in Monaco and then matched last month here at Hayward Field. Tyson Gay, the 100 winner who skipped the 200, set the previous meet record of 19.62 in 2007.
Michael Johnson has the American record (19.32) and Usain Bolt the world record (19.19).
Soon, it's back to work for Gatlin in an effort to catch Bolt, who skipped Jamaican nationals because he has automatic byes into both events as the world champion.
Spearmon returns to the Bird's Nest in Beijing, a place that doesn't hold pleasant memories. He captured bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics before being disqualified for stepping outside his lane.
“Unfinished work,” Spearmon said.
There were several touching moments at nationals on the final day, things like Chaunte Lowe giving her American flag to a military veteran after she won the high jump.
Then there's Alysia Montano, who ran the 800 at nationals last summer 7-1/2 pregnant and finished in 2:32.13. On Sunday, she carried 10-month-old Linnea in her arms after winning the event in 1:59.15.
“My greatest accomplishment was sharing an amazing moment with my daughter (last year),” Montano said.
There was a little drama in the men's shot put, with runner-up finisher Christian Cantwell perturbed over winner Joe Kovacs taking two extra practice throws before the final.
“I thought it was a little bush league,” said Cantwell, the 2008 Olympic silver medalist.
Other things to know from Sunday:
NEON BRIGHT: Wearing a bright bow in her hair, Texas A&M's Shamier Little became the first to win the 400 hurdles nationals and NCAA championships in the same season since Sheena Johnson (UCLA) in 2004.
THIRD PLACE: Galen Rupp caped off a tumultuous week by taking third in the 5,000, less than a second behind winner Ryan Hill. Rupp won the 10,000 Thursday amid allegations that coach Alberto Salazar encouraged him and others to skirt anti-doping rules.
AROUND THE TRACK: 110 hurdler David Oliver overcame a slow start to win the event. ... Olympic gold medalist Jennifer Suhr won the pole vault by clearing 15 feet, 9 3/4 inches. ... Nick Symmonds flexed as he crossed the line to win the 800. ... Barbara Nwaba edged Sharon Day-Monroe by 42 points for the heptathlon crown. — AP
