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2017 USATF Outdoor Championship: 100 meter dash preview

By Ryan Sterner

June 21, 2017

This article first appeared in the Citius Mag Newsletter. If you want to be the first on our hottest and freshest content, take a second to subscribe today. Thanks!

MEN’S 100 METERS

The men’s team from Rio hasn’t had a great 2017 thus far. Gatlin has ran three open 100m races, with his fastest being 9.97 for 5th place at the Pre Classic. Trayvon Bromell’s first race back from achilles surgery will likely be the first heat of the prelims and Marvin Bracy is out recovering from surgery with his eyes possibly on a football career as well. This leaves a stable of young, recently-turned-pro talent poised to make their first outdoor team.

Favorite to watch

This one should be tight, but we’re going to go with Christian Coleman. The Tennessee Volunteer turned pro earlier this month and also owns the world’s leading 100m time in 9.82. Does the young gun have the stamina to endure a full college season and the grueling rounds of the championship season? Hard to say. But it’s also hard to not pick the world lead. Strike while the iron’s hot, young one.

Dark horse pick

Trayvon Bromell. Yes, he made the team last year, but USAs will be his first race since he had surgery on his achilles back in August of 2016. We know he has the wheels, but will he be ready when the gun goes off? Let’s hope so.

Fun fact

Last year, Justin Gatlin became the oldest man to medal in a non-realy sprint event at the Olympics. Perhaps father time has finally caught up with him, but if he makes this team it will mark Gatlin’s 4th trip to a World Championships and he’s 35..

Predictions of who makes the team

1. Christian Coleman

2. Ronnie Baker

3. Justin Gatlin

WOMEN’S 100 METERS

The team from Rio has been a little all over place. Tori Bowie has the world lead in the 200m. English Gardner has been sporadic due to an early season calf injury. And Tianna Bartoletta has been busy flexing her long jump muscles, but expect to see her fighting for a spot on this year’s US team–as 2015’s gold medalist she has the auto-bid to London. Behind these three women are a host of collegiate athletes that hold down 7 of the fastest 10 times in the US this year.

Favorite to watch

As the world lead in the 200m, and last year’s 100m Olympic Silver Medalist, it’s hard not to choose Tori Bowie as this year’s champion. With Gardner struggling this season, and Bartoletta entering the twilight of her career, Bowie is primed to take over as the woman to beat.

Dark horse pick

If Aleia Hobbs can tap into her early season speed, she should have no problem running her way onto her first USA team. It would be quite the turnaround considering last year she didn’t run faster than 11.35, missing out on a chance to even qualify for Rio.

Fun fact/Stat

On top of having the fastest time in the 200m this year, Tori Bowie broke the World Record for the 150m straight sprint. She bested Carmelita Jeter’s time of 16.50 by a full .2 seconds.

Predictions of who makes the team

  1. Tori Bowie

  2. Tianna Bartoletta

  3. Morolake Akinosun

Ryan Sterner

Hobby jogger and soup enthusiast whose work has appeared in a number of highly esteemed publications such as Flotrack, The Howard Lake Herald Journal and Ebaum's World. Currently a resident of Los Angeles, where he spends most of his time indoors.