Some of the world’s best athletes, most of them Nike-sponsored, descended on Fort Worth to compete, reportedly in a bid to preserve the value of their professional contracts.
According to sources, under the terms of their contracts, the athletes are obligated to compete in at least 10 sanctioned races for the year. If they do not, they stand to lose money from their multi-million-dollar contracts.
In response, meets were created, the first of which was held today, that will allow the athletes to fulfil those obligations and as a result, save themselves millions of dollars.
Williams, who earlier this year signed a five-year contract with Nike believed to be valued at several million dollars, competed in the 60m, 100m, 150m, 250 and 300m races. She clocked 7.68 for the 60m, 12.43 for the 100m, 18.74 for the 150m, 38.31 over 250 and 46.56 for 300m.
Norman ran 7.96 for the 60m, 9.86 for the 100m, 34.82 for the 250 and 44.90 for 300m. His 100m time puts him in a pantheon of two, the number of athletes who would have run sub-10s, sub-20 for the 200m and sub-44 for the 400m.
Justin Gatlin, the 2017 100m World 100m champion, also competed at the meet setting times of 6.84 for 60m, 10.84 for the 100m, 15.93 for 150m, 32.53 for 250m and 42.32 for 300m.
In the men’s 100m, 400m hurdler Rai Benjamin ran an impressive 10.03 a massive personal best for the World Championship silver medallist. Ronnie Baker of the USA was third in 10.23.
Caribbean athletes also featured strongly in the men’s event as Kirani James, Johnathan Jones and Christopher Taylor are all in the final eight.
Meanwhile, Rushell Clayton was the lone survivor of the semi-final round of the 400m hurdles. She ran a lifetime best to advance to the finals.
Bahamas’ sprint queen Miller-Uibo, the Tokyo Olympic champion, was the fastest heading into the final after she cruised to a comfortable victory in her heat in a season-best 49.55.
The Dominican Republic champion Paulino was also easily through as the Olympic silver medallist, the second fastest woman in the world this year, clocked 49.98 to win her heat.
McLeod, the Jamaican champion who was fifth in Tokyo, ran a season’s best 50.05 to qualify for the finals that is shaping up to be quite similar to the one that lined up in Tokyo last year with the notable exception being the American Allyson Felix.
McPherson, fourth in Tokyo advanced as one of the fastest losers courtesy of her 50.56 that saw her finish third in her heat behind winner Fiordaliza Cofil of the Dominican Republic, who ran a personal best 50.14 and Lieke Klaver of the Netherlands who uncorked a new national record of 50.18.
The ever-improving Sada Williams of Barbados ran a season’s best 50.12 to also advance to the final.
The line-up is completed by Poland’s Anna Kiebasinska who advanced as one of the fastest losers with a time of 50.65.
Among the men, James was in impressive form winning his semi-final heat in 44.74 but was the fourth-fastest heading into the finals. Americans Michael Norman (44.30) and Champion Allison (44.71) and Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith (44.38) all had faster times.
Jones, who ran 44.78 and Taylor, a season-best 44.97, both also advanced as fastest losers.
Also through to the final, his first in five years, was 400m world-record holder Wayde van Niekerk. The South African clocked 44.75.
The final eight is completed by Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori who advanced with his time of 44.74.
Clayton, who was third at the Jamaican championships at the end of June ran a lifetime best 53.63 to advance to the finals of the 400m hurdles that will feature world record holder Sydney McLaughlin (52.17) and defending champion Dahlillah Mohammad (53.28 SB). Also through is The Netherlands’ star Femke Bol (52.84).
Puerto Rico’s Gianna Woodruff ran an area record of 53.69 to advance along with another US athlete Shamier Little who clocked a season-best 53.61.
The USA’s Britton Wilson also sneaked in with a time of 53.74.
Jamaican champion Janieve Russell (54.66) and runner-up Shian Salmon (54.16), each finished third in their respective heats but were not fast enough to advance to Friday night’s final.
The 30-year-old, who entered Wednesday’s Men’s 400m final at the Stade de France with a personal best of 44.18 done at the London Diamond League on July 20 this year, produced a national record 43.78 to finish fourth.
The previous national record of 44.01 was held by Machel Cedenio who ran that time in a fourth-place finish at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Running out of lane nine, Richards went out extremely hard in the first 300m before being caught by the field in the last portion of the race.
American Quincy Hall won his maiden Olympic title with a brilliant personal best 44.40, the fourth fastest time in history.
Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith, like he did at the World Championships in Budapest last year, took silver with a European record 43.44 while Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga ran 43.74, a national record, to take bronze just ahead of Richards.
Grenadian 2012 Olympic champion Kirani James was fifth in 43.87. USA’s Chris Bailey (44.58), Nigeria’s Samuel Ogazi (44.73) and USA’s Michael Norman (45.62) rounded out the top eight.
