Merritt edged out in bid to return to Olympics; Williams contending in heptathlon

Aries Merritt will not get a chance to defend his Olympic gold medal. And Jason Richardson won't get a chance to defend his silver.

In a surprise 110-meter finish at the U.S. Track and Field Trials, Oregon wide receiver Devon Allen won the event in 13.03 seconds. He was followed by Ronnie Ash and Jeff Porter. The trio will represent the United States in the Rio Games.

Merritt, a former Wheeler High School standout, finished fourth just .01 seconds behind Porter. Richardson was fifth.

Merritt won a bronze medal at the 2015 world championships in Beijing on a kidney that was working at 10 percent capacity. After receiving a new one from his sister in September and going through another surgery because of complications in October, he hurt his groin five weeks ago and wasn't in top form.

"For me to be where I am is a miracle," said Merritt, the world-record holder in the event. "It's a pity that I'm not going to the Games. I know in six weeks times I'll be in much better shape and probably pull off something similar as I did in Beijing. However, that's not the case."

Still, his doctor said what Merritt pulled off is a medical marvel. To run so quick after the transplant was amazing. To run that quick and almost make the team? Indescribable.

"Every time Aries does something else, somehow gets to the next round, is one more thing to stand back and just say, 'Wow,'" said Dr. Les Thomas, who treated Merritt at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona and was on hand for the trials. "Just for him to be here is unbelievable."

WOMEN'S HEPTATHLON: With wins in the 100-meter hurdles and 200 dash — two of her trademark events — Kendell Williams, the former Kell High School standout-turned-Georgia star sat second overall as qualifying began in the heptathlon.

Athletes competed in the first four legs of the seven-leg event Saturday — the 100 hurdles, high jump, shot put and 200 dash. The heptathlon will conclude today with the long jump, javelin throw and 800 run, and the top three overall point-scorers will earn berths into the Olympics.

Williams, the two-time defending NCAA champion in the heptathlon, got off to a strong start, running the 100 hurdles in 12.99 seconds, but she had to settle for third in the high jump, with a height of 6 feet, ½ inch.

First through two legs, Williams fell back to third after finishing 11th in the shot put, a discipline she has typically struggled in. Williams threw a best of 42-6, more than 7 feet behind the leader.

Williams, however, bounced back up into second with her win in the 200 dash, in a time of 23.67.

Overall, Williams has 3,892 points and narrowly trails Barbara Nwaba (3,903), who won the high jump and finished third in the shot put and 200. Heather Miller-Koch (3,822) is third, followed by Sharon Day-Monroe (3,813) and Williams' chief college rival, Mississippi State athlete Erica Bougard (3,804).