Justin Gatlin, running only his third 200 meters of the season, held off 400 champion LaShawn Merritt in the final strides to claim his second title at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials on Saturday in Eugene, Ore.
Gatlin, who started in Lane 8, finished in 19.75, just ahead of Merritt (19.79) and Ameer Webb (20.00).
Noah Lyles, an 18-year-old just out of high school in Alexandria, Va., finished a close fourth in 20.09, setting a national high school record. Another 18-year-old, Michael Norman of Murrieta, Calif., finished sixth in 20.14. Lyles is headed to Florida in the fall; Norman is expected to attend USC. Their sprint battles should spice up the NCAA competition next season.
Meanwhile, Gatlin and Merritt will both be going for the double in Rio. Merritt, the 2008 gold medalist in the 400, has qualified for the U.S. team in the 400, and he told NBC he wants to double up in the 200. Gatlin is the U.S. champ in the 100.
"I still feel like I can run a little faster," Merritt told NBC.
Gatlin is a two-time medalist in the 100 (gold in 2004, bronze in 2012), and he took bronze in the 200 in 2004.
He will be seen as perhaps the top challenger for Jamaica's Usain Bolt (along with Jamaican teammate Yohan Blake), who will go for his unprecedented third consecutive 100 and 200 Olympic double.
Contributing: The Associated Press
