Justin Gatlin guns it to win 100 in U.S. trials, trip to Rio Olympics

EUGENE, Ore. -- Justin Gatlin is heading back to the Olympics and he expects to see Usain Bolt there.

The 34-year-old won the men's 100 meters at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials on Sunday afternoon at Hayward Field. Gatlin crossed the line in 9.80 seconds to capture his fourth national championship in the event.

"I've had little knocks and bruises, ankles and quads and hamstrings, but at the end of the day when the competition shows up and rises, I have to rise to the occasion with it," Gatlin said. "Last year was all about time, running fast and consistent, but this year has been about rising to the moment and that is what I did."

Trayvon Bromell was second in 9.84 seconds and Marvin Bracy claimed the third and final ticket for the Rio Olympics by placing third in 9.98.

"I was trying to get my ticket to Rio," Gatlin said. "My parents bought tickets and my family has tickets, so the pressure was on me to punch my ticket."

Bolt, the two-time reigning Olympic champion in the 100, pulled out of the Jamaican Olympic trials because of a hamstring injury, but he could be added to the team if he is healthy at the end of the month.

"He's Usain, so we're going to see his face in Rio one way or another," said Gatlin, the bronze medalist in 2012 behind Bolt. "He's injured, he has a medical pass, that's what his country does. Our country doesn't do that. You've got to come to the line, you've got to come ready, and if you're not ready that day, you're just not on that boat to get to that next destination, which is the Olympic Games."

Allyson Felix overcame an ankle injury that has bothered her for the past two months to win the women's 400 in 49.68 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year.

"I don't think I can put it into words," she said. "Two months ago, I couldn't even walk and to be here and have everything still come together, I don't quite know how it happened."

Felix plans to seek another championship in the 200 beginning Friday.

NOTES: Chaunte Lowe won her third straight national title in the women's high jump by clearing 6 feet, 7 inches. "It feels really good," Lowe said. "Today I just wanted to do an Olympic prelim to see what it felt like and it felt so easy. I kind of expected it, so I will be ready in seven weeks." ... LaShawn Merritt won his fourth national championship in the men's 400 in 43.97. ... Jeffery Henderson won the men's long jump with a mark of 28-2 1/4. ... English Gardner won the women's 100 in 10.74. ... World record-holder Ashton Eaton defended his title in the decathlon by racking up 8,750 points.