EUGENE: Three-time world champion Grant Holloway punched his ticket to the Paris Olympics on Friday in the 110 metre hurdles at the US trials, while Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson cruised into the 200m finals.

Holloway won the 110 hurdles final in 12.86secs, the fastest time in the world this year, with Freddie Crittenden second in a personal best 12.93 and Daniel Roberts third in a personal best 12.96.

Reigning three-time world 200 champion Lyles and reigning world 100 champion Richardson remained on course for 100-200 sprint doubles in France, by advancing from the semi-finals to Saturday’s 200 finals at Hayward Field.

Holloway, 26, won 110 hurdles world crowns in 2019 at Doha, 2022 at Eugene and last year in Budapest as well as world indoor 60 hurdles titles in Belgrade in 2022 and this year at Glasgow. Now he hopes to add to an Olympic medal haul that began with silver at Tokyo three years ago after losing momentum over the last three hurdles.

Lyles, who won the 100 last weekend at the US trials in 9.83 secs, won his semi-final heat in a wind-aided 19.60secs (2.5m/sec) with Christian Coleman second in 19.89.

Two-time reigning world women’s shot put champion Chase Jackson and Tokyo Olympic runner-up Raven Saunders led qualifiers for the finals.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2024