by Larry Eder
Men’s Ostrava 100m: Andre De Grasse, Fred Kerley and Justin Gatlin, photo via WA TV by Stuart Weir
In Ostrava, there was a handful of Americans, who competed well. Unfortunately, Christian Taylor had a complete rupture of his achilles in the Triple Jump.
Americans in Ostrava!
Just a handful of Americans were at the Golden Spike on Wednesday, May 19!
Fred Kerley, the American 400m star, showed his speed by taking the 100m
In 9.96, with Justin Gatlin in 10.08 and Canadian Andre De Grasse in 10.17.
Kerley is the guy who ran a 45.03 indoors with a shoe untied this past season and could have had the indoor WR at 400m in 2021!
Justin Gatlin, who will turn 40 this year, continues to excel and should be a player in the Olympic Trials and Olympics at 100m. His start, but most of all, the discipline of this veteran of the sprint wars shows in his complete race.
In the 200m, Kenny Bednarek, who had recently lost a close event to Noah Lyles
Last week, won the 200m in Ostrava in a swift 19.93. In second, Fred Kerly, attempting to win a 100m/200m double, took second in the 200m in 20.27, with
Canadian Aaron Brown, who finished third in 20.40.
In the 400m, 2012 400m champ Kirani James is back, winning in 44.74, with the
The Grenadan besting Vernon Norwood, US, in 45.28, and Jochem Dobber in 45.30.
In the men’s Triple jump, after the 5th jump foul , Christian Taylor completely ruptured his achilles tendon. He was immediately taken to the hospital in Ostrava and it was determined that he had a complete rupture. He was taken to Germany and a successful surgery on the achilles tendon was performed. He remains in Germany, and told EME News ” I have 426 days until TJ at Eugene 2022.”
On the women’s side, the sole American was She,Carri Richardson in the 200m. The American sprinter, who has gone 10.74 and 10.77 over 100m at the weekend in the U.S., won the 200m in a fine 22.35 in the cold weather in Ostrava.
Now she is off to Gateshead on May 23, 2021.
