Justin Gatlin Sets New U.S. Championship Record, Runs 200 Meters In 19.57 Seconds


Justin Gatlin became the fifth-fastest person to run a 200-meter race and set a personal best when he breezed to a win on the 200-meter title in the U.S. Championship. According to ABC News, Gatlin set a personal best time of 19.57 seconds in the race. This is also the fastest time anyone has ever ran 200 meters in the U.S. Championship.

The 33-year-old sprinter pointed at the clock just after finishing and dominated almost all through the race. In second place was Gatlin’s training partner, Isiah Young, while Wallace Spearmon placed third. The video of Gatlin’s record breaking win at the U.S. Championship has been embedded above.

The United States record for the fastest 200 meter is held by Michael Johnson who did it in 19.32 seconds. As expected, the current world-record holder for 200 meter sprints is Usain Bolt, with his record being a mind-numbing 19.19 seconds.

Gatlin has, in earlier interviews, revealed that Usain Bolt’s record is well within his reach. The two champions are expected to meet at Beijing later this year. Before the finals held today, Gatlin had made his USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships debut with a wind-aided time of 19.92 seconds in the preliminary heats. He was the favorite to win today’s final.

Justin Gatlin

With Gatlin’s latest win, he has also cemented his place as being the world’s fastest man as of now. Usain Bolt, who has been struggling of late, only managed a time of 20.13 seconds last month. For the same reason, Gatlin has become the favorite for the World Championships scheduled for August. Gatlin has been the dominant sprinter in 2015, as he also managed the quickest time in 100 meter sprints this year — clocking 9.74 seconds. Speaking to USATF.TV right after the 200 meter sprint, Gatlin explained his run.

“When I was in the warm-up area, I was like, you know, let’s go out here and make a statement.”

As previously mentioned, with this win, Justin Gatlin has become the fifth-fastest man to run a 200-meter sprint. Those who have ran faster than Gatlin are Bolt (19.19), Yohan Blake (19.26), Michael Johnson (19.32), and Walter Dix (19.53).

Do you think Justin Gatlin would be able to take the title of the World’s fastest man at this year’s World Championships?

[Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images]

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