Dix's double sets up Bolt showdowns
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Shanghai Daily, June 28, 2011
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Walter Dix crosses the finish line to win the 200 meters in Eugene on Sunday. |
Olympic double bronze medallist Walter Dix will have a chance to race Usain Bolt twice in August's world championships after winning the 200 meters at the American trials in Eugene, Oregon, on Sunday.
The victory, in a wind-assisted 19.95 seconds, completed a sprint double for Dix, who won bronze medals in the 100 and 200 meters at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing where Jamaican Bolt swept to world records in both.
"I can't really see myself losing," Dix said of the upcoming world championships in Daegu, South Korea. "Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, whoever is there I am going to give them a good shot. I am confident I can win the gold after what I did today."
Dix, who won the US 100m title on Friday, became the first to claim both national championships since Tyson Gay in 2007. The wins came with little speed training, Dix said, and he promised to run faster as the season progresses. "To come out here and run under 10 seconds (in the 100) and under 20 in the 200 is truly a blessing," he added.
Doc Patton was a close second in 19.98 with Jeremy Dodson claiming the third spot on the US team for the world championships.
Shalonda Solomon ran down favorite Carmelita Jeter for a shock victory in the women's 200m.
Solomon finished in 22.15 seconds, the year's fastest time, to defeat US 100m champion Jeter by eight hundredths of a second. Jeneba Tarmoh took third in 22.28.
"I know if I can run with Carmelita, I can run with anybody," said Solomon.
World 400m champion Sanya Richards-Ross finished seventh, ending her chances of running a 200-400 double at the world championships. Kellie Wells topped a world-class 100m hurdles field in 12.50 seconds, outrunning Danielle Carruthers and Olympic champion Dawn Harper.
