Former American college football wide receiver Marvin Bracy, 20, won the 60m dash at the 2014 Millrose Games at the Armory in New York last night. Bracy, who clocked 6.53secs at the Boston Grand Prix last week, raced to 6.50secs over the same distance to defeat compatriot D’Angelo Cherry (6.54) and Jamaica’s Kimari Roach (6.59).
Billed as a showdown between the young American trio of Olympian Isiah Young, 2013 NCAA champions D’Angelo Cherry and Ameer Webb and 31-year-old Michael Frater of Jamaica, a member of Jamaica’s sprint relay world record teams, the race did not include Frater but was not run off without some drama as American Olympic sprint relay silver medalist Ryan Bailey and Trinidadian Keston Bledman were disqualified together for jumping the gun.
The uncommon occurrence did not go well with the booing fans, a visibly upset Bledman or with Bailey, who said he did not false start. “I know I didn’t false start, I reacted well, the judge showed me my reaction time [and] it wasn’t over the legal limit, so I don’t understand why I got disqualified.”
Referring to a faulty start before the double false start, Bracy said it made him a little jittery but managed to subsequently calm down to get a good start.
Rated as one of the fastest junior athletes in the world, Bracy said he realizes there’s now a target on his back and that those he topped last week and this week would be going back to the drawing table to beat him.
In another short sprint event, Jamaica’s Andrew Riley jumped the gun and was disqualified from the men’s 60 hurdles. Terrence Trammell of the US won the event in 7.57 while Dominic Berger in 7.57 and Jarret Eaton in 7.61 completed the top three.
400m World Leader Gordon Takes 300m
In the longer sprint, Trinidad and Tobago’s Lalonde, Gordon Lalonde clocked 32.47 in the 300m to win over American Mitchell Manteo (32.59), Trinidadians Renny Quow (32.71) and Jarrin Solomon (33.21), and Justin Gaymon (34.56) of New York Athletic Club.
“I wanted to go a little faster, but I’m a little tired. My body has been sore all week, but I’m thankful for the win” said Gordon, who ran a world leading 400m time of 45.17 one week ago.
In reflecting on his performances in 2013 and his plans for the 2014 season, Gordon said, “2013 was a rough year for me. I had an injury going into Worlds, and I wasn’t really strong like I was in 2012. So I just wanted to start the year right, and every time I go out there just give it a hundred percent…and just drop fast times. That’s what I’ve been doing since I stepped on the track in 2014.”