The sprint legend cautioned top names like Shericka Jackson and Gabby Thomas to stay sharp as Anavia Battle emerges as a serious new threat that could shift the dynamics of sprinting.
Two-time world 200m champion Shericka Jackson, reigning world 100m champion Sha’Carri Richardson, reigning Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred, reigning Olympic 200m champion Gabby Thomas and Co might have new competition coming their way as the 2025 season gains ground.
Anavia Battle has been making waves since opening her outdoor season and has gained popularity rapidly, with American sprint legend Justin Gatlin warning that the American might just be what the sport needed.
In recent years, Gabby Thomas, Shericka Jackson, Sha’Carri Richardson, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Julien Alfred, among other dominant sprinters, have made headlines, but Anavia Battle is slowly taking over, thanks to her impressive performances so far this season.
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Justin Gatlin heaps praise on Anavia Battle
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Justin Gatlin explained that the American sprinter is one of a kind, having travelled to China and managed to win both her races.
Anavia Battle beat Shericka Jackson to the title at the Diamond League Meeting in Xiamen before claiming top honours in the 200m also at the Meeting in Shanghai.
Justin Gatlin pointed out that she had a lot to deal with, from jet lag to climate change but she still managed to show up and drop spectacular times.
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“Listen, she got through the gauntlet, she came out on top and dropped a 22.38 on the other side of the world,” Justin Gatlin said on the Ready Set Go podcast.
“If you’re able to go out there and battle through different nutrition, and extreme jet lag, cause you are going to China to drop a nice time like that, means she is on a roll.
“Wherever she goes next, it’s not going to be as far as China, I guarantee that, so she is going to be ready to run.”
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Justin Gatlin advises Anavia Battle to sign up for Grand Slam Track
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The 2004 Olympic 100m champion also pointed out that it would be interesting to see Battle challenge the greats in the 100m and 200m, and urged her to sign up for the Grand Slam Track.
If she does that and goes ahead to win the races, she will not only get the chance to gain more recognition but also walk away with the hefty prize purse.
“That is somebody I would love to see in the Grand Slam because the way she is moving in the 100m and dropping times in the 200m, she will be a very formidable opponent and a very threatening challenger,” he added.
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The next leg of the Grand Slam Track is scheduled for May 30 to June 1 at the Franklin Field in Philadelphia.