Propelled by a season's best, Andre De Grasse booked his spot in the Diamond League Finals on Friday. The Canadian posted a time of 19.89 seconds in the men's 200 at a meet in Brussels — the first time he's broken 20 seconds all season — to place third in the race and firm up his spot at next weekend's championship event in Eugene, Ore.
American Kenny Bednarek won the race in 19.79 seconds, edging out England's Zharnel Hughes at 19.82. De Grasse entered Friday's race in the eighth and final qualifying spot for the Finals and Hughes and Bednarek nipping at his heels behind him.
But needing a good race, De Grasse produced just that — a welcome relief near the end of a trying season. WATCH | De Grasse, Brown secure season-best times: The 28-year-old from Markham, Ont., left the world championships in Budapest last month without a single medal, placing fifth in the 200 and watching from the sidelines as Canada's 4x100 relay team failed to advance through heats.
The Canadian himself has admitted that his 100-metre speed lagged this season, costing him his signature second-half boost in the 200 while he failed to even qualify for worlds in the 100.