Moments after crossing the finish line, Justin Gatlin turned to his left and pointed at the clock to make sure everyone noticed what he just did.

Hard to miss that time. Somewhere, a certain Jamaican sprinter is no doubt hearing about it, too.

Gatlin breezed to the 200-meter title at the US championships in a meet-record 19.57 seconds Sunday. He dominated a race in which he had the lead coming off the turn. It was all over after that, given how he has been running lately and that his legs were feeling particularly fresh.

"I wanted to go out and make a statement and that's what I did today," Gatlin said. "That's probably one of the best races I've had."

Training partner Isiah Young was second, 0.36 seconds behind, and Wallace Spearmon third as he rounds back up to speed after sports hernia surgery.

In the women's 200, Oregon standout Jenna Prandini won in 22.20. Candyce McGrone was second and Jeneba Tarmoh third.

Gatlin shattered his previous best of 19.68, which he set last July in Monaco and then matched last month here at Hayward Field. Tyson Gay, the 100 winner who skipped the 200, set the previous meet record of 19.62 in 2007.

And just so you know: Michael Johnson has the American record (19.32) and Usain Bolt the world record (19.19).

"I'm just honored to say I'm on that short list of Americans who have ran that fast," Gatlin said.

The 33-year-old Gatlin was so quick in the opening round that his competitors were jokingly telling him to slow it down. He was simply eager to begin since he skipped the 100 because he had an automatic bye into the world championships courtesy of his Diamond League title.

He's now set up for a showdown in both events with Bolt in Beijing later this summer.

First, though, some rest. Running that time left him drained.

"My body has never been there before," said Gatlin, the controversial sprinter with a doping past. "It hurt. ... But I'm feeling really good now."

Soon, it's back to work for Gatlin in an effort to catch Bolt, who skipped Jamaican nationals because he has automatic byes into both events as the world champion.

"A lot of sprinters are waking up and saying, 'It's time to fight back. It's time to work hard and bear that American flag with honor,'" Gatlin said.

Much like Gatlin, Prandini got a lead and never looked back.

"To go out there and actually put together my race and to come away with a win is exciting," Prandini said.

There were several touching moments at nationals on the final day, things like Chaunte Lowe giving her American flag to a veteran after she won the high jump.

Then there's Alysia Montano, who ran the 800 at nationals last summer 7 1/2 pregnant and finished in 2:32.13. On Sunday, she carried 10-month-old Linnea in her arms after winning the event in 1:59.15.

"My greatest accomplishment was sharing an amazing moment with my daughter (last year)," Montano said.

There was a little drama in the men's shot put, with runner-up finisher Christian Cantwell perturbed over winner Joe Kovacs taking two extra practice throws before the final.

"I thought it was a little bush league," said Cantwell, the 2008 Olympic silver medalist.

Kovacs brushed it off.

"I just like getting Christian mad," cracked Kovacs, who celebrated his 26th birthday Sunday. (dmr)

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