Oct 13, 12:15 PM UTC
Chicago Marathon
Oct 25, 4:00 PM UTC
CCAA Cross Country Championships
Oct 26, 12:30 PM UTC
GSC Cross Country Championships
Oct 27, 8:50 AM UTC
Frankfurt Marathon
Oct 27, TBD
NE10 XC Championship
Nov 1, TBD
Big East Champ
Nov 2, 4:00 PM UTC
SCIAC Women's Cross Country Championship
Nov 2, 4:45 PM UTC
SCIAC Men's Cross Country Championship
Nov 20-21, TBD
TRE LIVE
Nov 21, TBD
Cross Champs
Dec 6, TBD
GVSU Holiday Open
Dec 6, 4:00 PM UTC
Art Kadish Elm City Challenge
Dec 7, 3:00 PM UTC
BU Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener
Jan 17-19, 2025, 5:30 PM UTC
VA Showcase
Jan 18, 2025, TBD
GVSU Bob Eubanks Open
2019 IAAF World Championships

Non-Diamond League Track: Gatlin Injured, Felix Returns, McLeod Rising

Non-Diamond League Track: Gatlin Injured, Felix Returns, McLeod Rising

Justin Gatlin health status for Worlds is up in the air after he injured his hamstring on Tuesday. That and other takeaways from Zagreb and Berlin.

Sep 4, 2019 by Lincoln Shryack
Non-Diamond League Track: Gatlin Injured, Felix Returns, McLeod Rising
It’s easy to lose sight of regular-season track and field meetings outside of the Diamond League circuit, especially this late in the year. But several results earlier this week in Germany and Croatia were especially telling for Doha and beyond.

Unlock this article, live events, and more with a subscription!

Sign Up

Already a subscriber? Log In

It’s easy to lose sight of regular-season track and field meetings outside of the Diamond League circuit, especially this late in the year. But several results earlier this week in Germany and Croatia were especially telling for Doha and beyond.

Here were four takeaways from Berlin and Zagreb:

Justin Gatlin's Medal Chances In Doubt After Injury In Zagreb

Justin Gatlin’s chances of repeating his 100m world title took at least a minor hit on Tuesday when the 37-year-old came up limp in a race in Zagreb, Croatia. Gatlin, who was a disappointing fourth in last week’s 100m Diamond League final in Zurich, looked to be on his way to victory on Tuesday before a leg issue forced him to cruise in from 65 meters to the finish line.

According to Reuters, tests on Gatlin’s hamstring came back negative, and the sprinter’s manager expects him to return to training later this week. But there’s no doubt that Gatlin’s medal chances are in jeopardy as hamstring issues tend to linger.

The former Olympic champion won the Bellinzona 100m in between Zurich and Zagreb on Sunday in 9.97. His 9.87 season’s best is the fourth-fastest time in 2019. He will not race between now and the first round of the world championships in Doha on Sept. 27.

Allyson Felix Second In Zagreb 400m In First Race Since USAs

Four-time individual world champion Allyson Felix finished second on Tuesday in the Zagreb 400m in 51.67 behind fellow American and reigning world champion Phyllis Francis, her first race since USAs in July. Last week it was reported that Felix, who was sixth in the U.S. final on July 27, will participate in the relays at the 2019 World Championships. It is not yet clear how Felix, competing on her ninth world championship team, will be utilized in Doha. 

The 33-year-old had a baby last November via emergency C-section. Felix did not compete ahead of the U.S. Championships, and she went over 13 months between races. Felix ran her 51.45 season’s best in the U.S. semifinal.

Josh Thompson Victorious In Berlin, Runs Fastest 1500m By American In 2019

Twenty-six-year-old Josh Thompson's third-place showing in the U.S. men’s 1500m on July 28 was one of the bigger surprises in Des Moines. Although his finish didn’t qualify him for Worlds since the Bowerman athlete didn’t have the standard at the time, Thompson’s performance represented a career high point after a down 2018 campaign. His ascent continued on Sunday with a 3:35.01 win — complete with a strong kick — at the ISATF Berlin 1500m:

The only downside is that Thompson just barely missed the 3:35.00 2020 Olympic standard. But the bigger picture is that a guy whose career appeared to be languishing is now a serious contender to make the team for Tokyo.

Here Comes Omar McLeod: Reigning World Champ Runs 13.07 In Berlin

It’s been a tough year for Olympic and World 110m hurdles champion Omar McLeod of Jamaica, who lost his aunt in May and then underwent an abrupt coaching change after a series of lackluster results earlier in the summer. But coincidence or not, McLeod has looked better since switching to coach Rana Reider in August. On Sunday in Berlin, the 12.90 man won his second consecutive race and ran a 13.07 season’s best.

Unless Daniel Roberts or Orlando Ortega runs a dominant race in the Diamond League final on Friday in Brussels, this event will not have a clear favorite heading into Doha. (McLeod had enough points to compete in Brussels, but has elected to skip the event.) But the Jamaican’s electric start in Berlin, combined with his history of success at championships, could give him the psychological edge over Roberts, Ortega and world leader Grant Holloway at Worlds.

Related Content