Devon Allen, who juggles between sprint and American football (NFL), achieved the third best time in history over 110m hurdles, in 12”84 on Sunday at the New York Grand Prix.
The 27-year-old American flew over the race, winning ahead of Grant Holloway, gold medalist at the 2019 World Championships (13”06) and Daniel Roberts (13”17).
Only two men ran faster over the distance: world record holder Aries Merritt (12.80) and Holloway (12.81).
‘It was there. I had this time in my legs in training for the past six weeks. They just had to be fresh. I come to the sessions with the football team in Philadelphia and I had fun with the guys. But now I’m in track mode for the next two weeks,” Allen explained.
“Really the most important thing is to feel fresh and be able to run fast, I’m really excited,” added the sprinter who was Olympic finals in Rio in 2016 and last year in Tokyo.
Christian Coleman is gaining momentum a month and a half before the Worlds where he will defend his title: he won the 100m on Sunday, in 9”92, by far his best time of the season, ahead of the Jamaican Ackeem Blake ( 9”95).
It’s not yet the best world performance of the year, still owned by Kenyan Fernand Omanyala (9”85), nor his reference time (9”76), but Coleman managed his most accomplished race of the year on the straight line.
Author of a timid return (10”09), on May 8 in Tokyo, since his 18-month suspension for breaches of his location obligations, he then ran in 10”04, on the 28th, to rank 3rd in Eugene where the Diamond League was staged.
Eugene where the World Athletics Championships will take place from July 15 to 24, preceded by the American selections from June 23 to 26. The two most important meetings for the 26-year-old sprinter, who won gold in Doha in the last edition in 2019.
Richardson in progress
Among the women, Sha’Carri Richardson, also in search of her optimal form, certainly finished 2nd in the 100m, behind her compatriot Aleia Hobbs (10”83), but her time of 10”85 is by far his best this season.
She caused a sensation last year at the American Olympic selections, running in 10”64 (with the help of the wind) in the semi-finals before winning the final. But she had been deprived of the Tokyo Games for smoking cannabis.
The 22-year-old sprinter, noticed in a purple jumpsuit, with red mesh on her legs and arms, however won the 200m a little later in 22”38.
In the other events of the day, Noah Lyles, Olympic bronze medalist in Tokyo last year, won the men’s 200m in 19.61, his reference time this season.
/ATS