Don't look now, but.................GATLIN!
The guy goes all the way to Turkey, survives the B.S. in the rounds, and wins going away, in a SB, and nearly a WL, essentially equal to his 6.45 PR.
Lerone who?
Gatlin is brilliant.
All he needs to do, IMHO, is to work on his early transition, from his early acceleration phase to his later acceleration phase, and he will have a decent shot at the Olympic final, which would be an unbelievable achievement, considering who is likely to make that final--essentially the 4 fastest guys ever.
I haven't seen his race, but I suspect it was almost identical to his 6.47
I think he can improve a bit in 2 areas--his early transition, from early acceleration drive to higher-speed acceleration, and also in his top-end turnover. His stride is of course huge, but he seems to have just a bit of a lag, relative to his roid-fueled glory days.
He might want to shorten it just a bit from maybe 40-55, then progressively stride it out for the last 45, maintaining the stride frequency developed from 40-55. I think paying careful attention to his arm action would help him in this endeavor.
But WTF do I know--6.46 is excellent, overseas, in a crappy facility. He is in low-9.90 form RIGHT NOW, in MARCH. I hope he peaks at the right time for London.
This would have been a 6.44 at altitude or in a better facility and without the travel.
Ultimately he is in the best 60m shape of his life.
Good year for it, too, and he is at a good age.
All things being equal, he is in the same position as Chambers, and spanked him royally. He also left Carter in the dust.
Of course I'm still rooting primarily for Gay and Dix at trials, as they aren't caught cheaters--as well as other guys like Demps, Salaam, etc.--but I hope that Gatlin at least waxes that other doper Rodgers.
Whatever happens, I could see the rest of the US runners picking up their game now that they see what Gatlin has done. Even though Gatlin is a doper, this is a GREAT result for US sprinting, because success can be contagious.
Nesta who?
Of course, this is incontrovertible proof that US sprinters live cleaner, eat better, and train harder than their Jamaican counterparts, right Ilemy?
Now waiting to see what Demps puts up at NCAA's.
Remember in the other thread where I said that he ran well within himself, and nicely controlled, in his 6.47? This 6.46 is more proof of that. I think he can run a 6.45-6.50 any day of the week, at any time. Winning indoor WC's with a controlled race is the best possible outcome.
GREAT DAY FOR US MENS SHORT SPRINTS