University of Oregon
USA Track & Field Championships
Stevens Wins U.S. Title in 200 Meters
06/25/17 | Track and Field
Junior Deajah Stevens won the U.S. title in the 200 meters to secure her second World Championships bid for Team USA, and junior Damarcus Simpson and former Duck Devon Allen also qualified on Sunday in Sacramento
SACRAMENTO - Oregon track and field junior Deajah Stevens took home the U.S. crown in the 200 meters Sunday on the final day of the U.S. Outdoor Championships, securing her second bid of the weekend to the IAAF World Championships in London this August.
Junior Damarcus Simpson and former Duck great Devon Allen also earned qualifying spots for the World Championships, wrapping up a terrific weekend for past, current and future Ducks at Hornet Stadium.
How it Happened: Stevens put together a brilliant race in the finals to take the 200-meter title in 22.30, while facing a significant head wind, running away from favorite and U.S. 100 meter champion Tori Bowie (22.59). Stevens' win in the 200 was a tremendous rebound performance for the junior after she fell while leading the 200 at the NCAA Championships.
"I love running and excited to be out there," Stevens said in a post-race interview. "I have never been to London so that is going to be fun. It feels awesome. We got the triple crown for Oregon, but I did not have any individual titles so it is great to get one now."
The victory gives Stevens two qualifiers to the World Championships after she and teammate Ariana Washington went 2-3 in the 100 meters on Friday. Washington just missed out double-dipping herself with a fourth-place finish in the 200 finals, and former Duck Jenna Prandini was seventh in 23.16.U.S. CHAMPION! @ButDeajahSaid takes the U.S. crown in the 200 meters with a winning time of 22.30! #GoDucks #USATFOutdoors pic.twitter.com/wLQ8mOouud
— Oregon Track & Field (@OregonTF) June 25, 2017
Simpson was fifth in the long jump heading into the finals before unloading a huge jump of 27'5.25" (8.36m) to finish in third. The Pac-12 champion earned a qualifying spot to the World Championships with his third-place finish, but because the mark was wind-aided (w+5.0), he will need to achieve the world championship standard of 8.15m by July 23 to officially be eligible to join Team USA in London this August.
Allen, representing Nike, will join Team USA for the first time as a professional after taking third in the 110 hurdle finals in 13.34. Allen books his ticket to London less than a year after suffering his second knee injury in as many seasons.
"It feels great," Allen said of making his second World team. "I didn't think I was going to be here when I started my recovery from knee surgery, so I am just ecstatic to be on the world team again. It makes my season a little bit longer."
Raevyn Rogers, who has won five straight NCAA titles at 800 meters and is a Bowerman award finalist, missed the World Championships by one spot in the 800 after finishing fourth in the finals in 2:00.18. Former Duck and 2014 Bowerman winner Laura Roesler was seventh in 2:01.10.
Senior Kyree King also just missed out on qualifying for London in the 200 meters, placing fourth in 20.40. King closes out a tremendous season with the Ducks in which he swept the Pac-12 titles and broke the school records in both the 100 and 200.
With fourth-place finishes, King, Rogers and Washington (200) are all alternates for the World Championships and could join Team USA if one of the three qualifiers in their respective events drop out. Washington will be in London regardless for the 100 meters.
Former Duck Britney Henry took seventh in the hammer throw finals with a top throw of 224'3" (68.37m).
Ducks Headed to London:
Current
Damarcus Simpson - Long Jump (Needs to reach standard of 8.15m/26-9 by July 23 to officially qualify)
Deajah Stevens - 100m, 200m
Ariana Washington - 100m
Pro
Devon Allen - 110H
Matthew Centrowitz - 1,500m
Phyllis Francis - 400m
Johnny Gregorek - 1,500m
Cyrus Hostetler - Javelin (Needs to reach standard of 86.25m/283' by July 23 to officially qualify)
Eric Jenkins - 5,000m
Players Mentioned
