2017 U.S. Track and Field: Harrison Returns With World Mark In Women's 100m Hurdles, Gatlin Wins
Keni Harrison looked really good in the Women's 100 Meters Hurdles at the 2017 USATF Outdoor and Junior Championships in Sacramento. She returns after breaking a bone in her left hand in early May. Publicity Photo Art by T. Ray Harvey. Sacramento State University, Sacramento, Calif.
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Sacramento, Calif. –Keni Harrison, who owns the women’s world record in the 100 meters hurdles, clocked a 12.54 mark in the prelims of the USA Track and Outdoor and Junior Championships at Sacramento State University on June 23.
Harrison’s time in the event is currently the best in the world recorded thus far this year. It’s also been six-weeks removed since she broke a bone in her left hand warming up for the Doha Diamond League, which the 25-year-old athlete still won.
The goal for Harrison is to represent the United States later this summer at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships in London. There is no ill effects from the injury or a pin that surgically inserted in her hand, she said.
“I want to come out here and win my first USA title,” Harrison said. “That’s the plan and that’s what I’ve prepared for. I think I took like one day off, the day after surgery, but I had to get back out there because I didn’t want to stop. I wanted to stay in shape.”
Harrison didn’t have to run in the 100 meters hurdles since she had already qualified. But she 25-year-old former Kentucky Wildcat wanted to take kick the tires to make sure she was a go. She and her competitors ran in 102-degrees heat at Hornet Field.
“I wanted to come out here and put a good number down,” Harrison said. “I got the automatic, which makes me feel better but the goal is to get my first USA title.”
Alaysha Johnson, who ran in the same heat as Harrison, had the next highest time at 12.71 while Nia Allen finished with a time of 12.74 in the event. Only 16 female competitors move on to the semifinals.
Tori Bowie won the 2017 national title in the women’s 100 meters dash with a time of 10.94 seconds. Deajah Stevens ran 11.08 for second while Ariana Washington placed in third place with a time of 11.10 seconds. Allyson Felix finished in last place with a time of 11.28 seconds.
Thirty-five-year-old Justin Gatlin takes the men’s 100 meters crown, winning the event with a time of 9.95 seconds to move on to the World Championships. Gatlin squeaked by Christian Coleman’s 9.99 Christopher Belcher 10.06.
Most certainly, the times are way behind world-record hold Usain Bolt’s mark. Coleman is currently the world leader this year after he ran 9.82 seconds in June 7 in Eugene Oregon.
For Complete Day 2 Results of the USATF Outdoor and Junior Championships, visit http://results.usatf.org/
BLAST FROM THE PAST: Retired High Jumper Tyke Peacock Represents As USATF Ambassador of Alumni Association
Well, look who Publicity Agents ran into at Sacramento State University during the 2017 USA Track and Field Outdoor and Junior Championships. Tyke Peacock, a former world-class high jumper was at the meet to present medals to winners of the event.
The finalists of the event advances to the World Championships in London later this summer. Charles Williams "Tyke" Peacock is here with good reasons.
From Urbana, Illinois, Peacock won a silver medal in the high jump in inaugural World Championships in 1983 in Helsinki.
He's the first pure athlete from the Urbana-Champaign, Ill., area to get a legitimate featured article in Sports Illustrated. Peacock won the World Cup with a leap of 7 feet 5 3/4 inches in 1981. He was ranked No. 1 in the world by Track and Field News. His personal best is 7-7 3/4 inches.
Peacock is a member of USATF Alumni Association and Ambassador for the sports organization, who attends all the major Track and Field meets. The Alumni Association's objective is promote the sport of track and field as well as encourage contact and communications among athletes.
By T. Ray Harvey | PA Public Information Officer and Photographic Artist
Twitter: Tony Ray Harvey @PublicityAgents
Instagram: arayharvey
T. Ray (Antonio) Harvey is a Public Information Officer and Photographic Artist for Publicity Agents. Harvey is also the author of The HOMICIDAL HANDYMAN OF OAK PARK: MORRIS SOLOMON JR.
