Justin Gatlin, English Gardner Are Top Qualifiers in Men’s and Women’s 100 Meters Olympic Trials

A veteran Olympic sprinter and an Olympic newcomer won the top spots in the men’s and women’s 100 meter 2016 Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon over the Independence Day weekend.

Justin Gatlin won the men’s competition with a time of 9.80 in the finals. Gatlin has been around awhile. The 34 year old won the Gold in the 100 meters at the 2004 Games in Athens. He missed the 2008 Olympics due to a four year doping ban, which ended in 2010. He returned to the Olympics at the 2012 London Games, taking the Bronze in the 100. Because of that past doping ban, Gatlin has and will operate under suspicion.

Gatlin’s teammates in the 100 meters are two young sprinters in their first Olympics. Trayvon Bromell, who turns 21 on July 10th, and Marvin Bracy, 22, finished second and third with times of 9.84 and 9.98. It is the first Olympics for both. Earlier this year, Bromell won the 60 meters at the World Indoor Championships.

English Gardner was the top qualifier for the women with a time of 10.74, followed by Tianna Bartoletta (10.776) and Tori Bowie (10.779). It’s the first Olympics for Gardner and Bowie; Bartoletta (as Tianna Madison) won Gold in the 4 X 100 relay in London.