U.S. depth bodes well for London

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Olympic 100-meter hurdles gold medalist didn’t race. The bronze medalist couldn’t make the team.

Still, they’re thinking a red, white and blue sweep in the event at the London world championships. Just shows the depth of the hurdles.

World-record holder Keni Harrison used a strong start to win her first U.S. outdoor track and field championship Saturday. Nia Ali, the silver medalist at the Rio de Janeiro Games, was second and Christina Manning took third. Because Harrison already had a wild-card berth into worlds in August, 2008 Olympic gold medalist Dawn Harper-Nelson also made the hurdles squad courtesy of her fourth-place finish.

Harrison finished in 12.60 seconds to beat Ali by a 0.08 margin.

In Rio, the 1-2-3 hurdles finish was led by Brianna Rollins, who received a one-year suspension in April for repeated failures to disclose her whereabouts to anti-doping officials. Rollins’ suspension is retroactive to Sept. 27, 2016, the date of her last missed whereabouts report. Also missing from the world team will be Kristi Castlin, the bronze medalist in Rio who wound up sixth in the final.

Harrison went all out despite already having a safety net to worlds thanks to her Diamond League title. She needed the work after breaking her left hand while warming up for a hurdles race this spring.

Some of the highlights of Day 3 at the national championship: ■ Pole vaulter Sam Kendricks became a member of the six-meter club (19 feet, 8 ¼ inches) in his victory.

■ Former University of Colorado runners Jenny Simpson (1,500) and Emma Coburn (steeplechase) earned national titles. Another former Buffalo, 31-yearold Sara Vaughn, finished third in the 1,500.

■ Olympic gold medalist Matthew Centrowitz recently recovered from a viral infection and an adductor injury that left him wondering how well he would be able to compete in the 1,500. He made the team, but couldn’t catch Robby Andrews down the stretch.

■ Odds and ends: Quanera Hayes won the 400 in a world-leading time of 49.72. … Fred Kerley of Texas A&M held off Gil Roberts to capture the 400 title. Baylor’s Wil London III was third. … The field events winners included Raven Saunders (shot put), Tianna Bartoletta (long jump), Riley Dolezal (javelin) and Mason Finley (discus).