English Gardner raecd into the 100-meter dash final at USATF Nationals Friday with her fastest time at nationals in eight years.
Gardner, 33, ran 11.10 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., with a legal 0.7 wind and placed 3rd in the 1st of three semifinal heats. The top two in each heat and the next three-fastest times advanced to the final later Friday night. Gardner had the 2nd-fastest time outside the top two in each heat.
The 11.10 is Gardner’s fastest at nationals since she ran a wind-aided 10.96 in the semifinals in Eugene in 2021 but her fastest with legal wind since an 11.04 in the first round in Sacramento in 2017.
Earlier this year, Gardner ran a wind-legal 11.04 in Winter Garden, Fla., her fastest time in seven years. Gardner graduated from Eastern in 2010.
The final is scheduled for 10:27 p.m. EST, and Gardner will be in Lane 2.
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English finished 9th in the final in 11.17. Disappointing race but a heck of a couple days in Eugene for English. It was her first time reaching the finals since 2021, when she placed 5th.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 