Sixth place doesn't rate for Merritt

INDIANAPOLIS — Aries Merritt described his week at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in a simple way.

Its been a tough week, said Merritt, a former University of Tennessee national champion in the 110 hurdles.

Two other athletes of local interest — Anthony Famiglietti and Hazel Clark — suffered the same type of experience on Sunday, which turned out to be a rainy final day for the meet.

Famiglietti, an ex-Vol, finished fourth in the 3,000 steeplechase, in what was his first time running the event this season.

Clark, who trains in Knoxville under Tennessee coach J.J. Clark, lost the 800 meters on a lean.

Merritt entered this weeks championships suffering from a slight back strain suffered three weeks ago.

Still, he managed to advance through the first two rounds of the 110 hurdles. In the championship, he finished sixth in 13.24.

Terrence Trammell won the race in 13.08. Allen Johnson finished one place behind Merritt in seventh (13.60) and failed to qualify for the World Championships for the first time since 1993.

It wasnt a perfect race, but it never is in the hurdles, Merritt said. You just have to keep driving and keep digging.

I did have a better time today than I did last year here.

Merritt finished sixth at last years USA Outdoors in 13.43. The ex-Vol said he was aiming to finish this years race in the 13.15-13.20 range.

I almost hit it, said Merritt, who ran 13.37 in the semifinals. But I cant ask for too much more (considering the injury).

Merritt finishes up his first professional season after leaving Tennessee with one year of eligibility remaining.

Winning an NCAA championship as a junior left Merritt little to prove in the collegiate ranks.

It was a better decision for me financially, Merritt said. I still got to finish school, so it was worth it.

In the 800, Alysia Johnson denied Clark of winning her third-straight USA Outdoor title.

It also snapped a four-year streak of either Hazel Clark or her sister-in-law, Jearl Clark, winning the 800 title. Jearl won the event in 2003 and 2004.

This years 800 featured one of the closest finishes in the meet. Johnson edged Clark on a lean at the finish line to win in 1:59.47. Clark finished in 1:59.60.

Clark and Johnson both fell to the ground after crossing the finish line. Also, Alice Schmidt wasnt far behind the two leaders, finishing third in 1:59.63.

Clark was third after 400 meters and moved into second 100 later. She took the lead briefly, but ran neck-to-neck with Johnson for the final 200.

In the 3,000 steeplechase, Famiglietti was one of three runners finishing in the 8:27-range.

Famiglietti was fourth in 8:27.64, while Aaron Aguayo was second in 8:27.01 and Thomas Brooks was third in 8:27.34.

In the 200, Tennessees Rubin Williams was fifth in 20.40. Tyson Gay set his second meet record of the weekend, winning in 19.62. He broke Michael Johnsons 1996 meet record of 19.66.

On Friday, Gay set a meet record in the 100.

UTs Evander Williams bowed out in the 200 semifinals, running in 21.15. Williams ran 20.51 in the semifinals.