EUGENE (UNITED STATES) - Rising sprint star Trayvon Bromell outshone veteran rivals Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay at the US Olympic trials here Saturday as Allyson Felix fought through the pain barrier to reach the 400-meters final.
Trayvon Bromell (R) runs in the first round of the men's 100m during the US Olympic track and field trials on July 2, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon
Bromell, who showed signs of his rapid development with victory over 60 meters at the World Indoor Championships in March, clocked 9.94 seconds to romp into Sunday's next round of the 100m at Hayward Field.
The 20-year-old is bullishly optimistic of being able to challenge Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt in Rio de Janeiro and is confident he can run faster.
"It was crazy when the time came up," Bromell told reporters.
"But I've run a 9.8 before so I know what it takes to run that. I'll get out there tomorrow and hopefully do the same thing," added Bromell, who posted 9.84 at the same venue last year to become the fastest teenager in history.
Bromell's time was just ahead of Christian Coleman in 9.96 while veteran Gay, working his way back after a drugs ban, was third-fastest in 9.97. Gatlin, the 100m silver medalist behind Bolt at last year's world championships in Beijing, was sixth-fastest with 10.03.
"My race was good. I took it easy. My coach said to work my drive phase, come out, check where everyone is, cross the finish line and get ready for the next day," Gatlin said.
Gatlin, meanwhile, said he had been surprised by news of Bolt's injury in Kingston on Friday that has placed a question mark against the Jamaican star's fitness for Rio.
"I got a text last night. I thought 'Is it April Fools?' Let me check the calendar," Gatlin said.
Gatlin is confident, however, that Bolt will compete in Brazil.
"Come on, man -- he's Usain," Gatlin said. "We're going to see his face in Rio one way or another."
- Felix battles on -
In the women's 100m, meanwhile, English Gardner and Tori Bowie both eased into the semi-finals with impressive opening runs to win their respective heats.
Gardner, the confident 24-year-old from New Jersey, blew away her rivals to cross in 10.90.
"I felt so good," said Gardner. "Things have been going so well for me in training, spiritually, mentally, physically. I'm so fit."
Gardner's opening heat was matched by rival Bowie, who powered through her first round race with an identical time of 10.90.
Elsewhere Saturday, women's star Felix kept her dream alive of a 400m-200m double in Rio after battling through to the final of the 400m.
Felix has been troubled by an ankle injury since a freak gym accident in April and admitted it is still troubling her.
She comfortably qualified for Sunday's final, however, with a time of 50.31 in her heat.
"I haven't really raced this year so each race, each round, I'm getting a little sharper," Felix said. "It's difficult to not feel like me, it's a different year, so I have to go with what I have. I don't feel like myself, but I've just got to keep pushing."
The performance of the day came from Olympic long jump champion Brittney Reese, who booked her ticket to Rio after producing the best leap worldwide in more than a decade to clinch victory.
The 29-year-old triple world champion surged clear of her rivals with a jump of 7.31 meters, the furthest any woman has leaped since 2004.
"I thought it was around 7.20-something, but I knew yesterday when I jumped 7 meters easily, I knew that today would be special, and I proved myself to be right," Reese said.
Only Jackie Joyner-Kersee with 7.49m has leapt further among American women.
Joyner-Kersee says Reese has still not reached her peak after watching her display on Saturday.
"There's more to come. She's a great athlete and a great person and I'm happy for her," the US track and field legend said.
"She can pass me and go even further."