The Justin Gatlin era seems to have come to an end at the US Olympic trials Sunday night (June 20), but Allyson Felix lives on making her way to a fifth Olympic Games.

The 39-year-old Gatlin, a polarising figure in track and field, suffered a leg injury and finished eighth in the final of the 100m, signaling the end of an era and the beginning of another. Trayvon Bromell, unbeaten all year, clocked 9.80 to take victory, living up to expectation and cementing himself as the firm favourite for the gold medal in Tokyo, Japan.

After years of trying, Ronnie Baker made his first Olympic team, clocking a personal best for second place while 2019 World Championship 400m finalist Fred Kerley justified his decision to abandon the one-lap event for a much shorter sprint when he ran a personal best 9.86 for third.

Midway the race, Gatlin grabbed at his leg and slowed to cross the line in 10.87 seconds.

The final of the women’s 400m was perhaps the most thrilling of the evening, as a 35-year-old Felix, hoping for one last hurrah on the Olympic stage, walked down a much younger field on the home stretch to clock a season best 50.02 while finishing second to Quanera Hayes, who ran 49.78, also a season-best.

Wadeline Jonathas just failed to hold off Felix but still managed to secure a spot on the US team to Tokyo with her season-best time of 50.03.

The men’s 400m provided a stirring battle down the home stretch between favourite Michael Norman and Fred Cherry, who ran stride for stride during the closing stages of the race before Norman found a little bit more to pull away and win in a season-best 44.07. Cherry ran a personal best 44.35 for the runner-up spot.

Randolph Ross, who ran a world-leading 43.85 to win the NCAA national title just over a week ago, had little left in his legs, but it was enough for him to book the final individual spot, running 44.74 for third.

World record holder Kendra Harrison earned her first Olympic berth when she managed to hold off a stacked field to win the 100m hurdles in a season-best 12.47. Brianna McNeal, the 2016 Olympic champion, was second in 12.51 but her place in Tokyo remains uncertain.

Banned for five years by the Disciplinary Tribunal of Athletics Integrity Unit for tampering with the anti-doping process, McNeal appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which stayed her sanction until after they hear her case. They will rule before the Olympic Games that begins on July 23.

Third place went to Christina Clemons, who missed out on the last two Olympic Games because of challenges with injury and fitness. She ran 12.53, just managing to dip across the line ahead of Gabbi Cunningham, who was credited with the same time.

Clemons shed tears of joy afterwards in acknowledgement of the struggles she has had to overcome to make her first US Olympic team.

The US trials resumes tonight (June 21) with the final of the men’s javelin, pole vault and triple jump. The men’s 800m final and women’s 1500m and 500m finals are also on the schedule.

The trials will then take a break until Thursday, June 24.