USA’s Justin Gatlin has fired warning shots ahead of next month’s IAAF World Championships after beating World No.2, Asafa Powell and countryman, Tyson Gay in the men’s 100m at the Lausanne Diamond League on Thursday.
Former World record (WR) holder, Powell must be conscious of the fact that he has his work cut out for him after Gatlin won the race with a scorching 9.75s, equalling the time he set at the Rome Diamond League and just 0.01s off his world leading mark of 9.74s set in Doha.
Powell recently won the Jamaican Trials with 9.84s and came 2nd in 9.92s in Lausanne, the same time returned by Gay in 3rd place, while compatriot Michael Rodgers settled for 4th in 10.03s. Gatlin has maintained his unbeaten streak in both the 100m and 200m since last year and is favoured to win the world title even as the world’s fastest man ever, Usain Bolt struggles to regain his form.
The men’s 200m was equally explosive as newly converted British athlete, Zharnel Hughes raced to his first Diamond League victory with a Personal Best (PB) of 20.13s; South Africa’s Anaso Jobodwana returned a time of 20.21s to finish in 2nd place. Despite his position, Jobodwana still leads the Diamond League standings in the 200m.
USA’s Isaiah Young who placed 2nd behind Gatlin at the National Trials settled for 3rd in 20.27s. Hughes, who turns 20 in a few days, secured his first British title at National Trials last weekend, and has booked his place on the team to Beijing.
Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare pulled out from the 200m after finishing 4th in the Long Jump; nevertheless the race was an exciting one which saw Olympic champion, Allyson Felix maintaining her cool and overcoming the threat posed by European double champion, Dafne Schippers. Felix, who is aiming for a 200m/400m double in Beijing, returned a time of 22.09s, with Schippers coming 2nd with 22.29s while Africa’s Murielle Ahouré followed with 22.36s.
Bahamian former junior champion, Shaunae Miller could not be denied victory in the women’s 400m as she left Olympic champion, Sanya Richards-Ross trailing in her wake, coasting to a win in 49.92s. This is a tremendous improvement for the 21-year old who finished 2nd behind world leader, Francena McCorory in New York where she clocked 50.66s.
Richards-Ross, who is still battling to overcome the disappointment of not making the US team to the World Championships, finished 2nd (51.12s) while 2014 Diamond Race winner, Novlene Williams-Mills was 3rd in 51.15s. British champion, Anyika Onuora, who recently defeated world champion, Christine Ohuruogu at the National Trials, clocked 51.26s. Nigeria’s Regina George was 6th with 51.99s.
Jasmin Stowers made an impressive comeback in the sprint hurdles but narrowly lost the top spot to US champion and the fastest woman in 2014, Dawn Harper-Nelson. Stowers overcame a slow start and caught up with the rest of the field to finish 2nd in 12.58s as Harper-Nelson took the race with a time of 12.55s.
Queen Harrison was 3rd in 12.63 as world leader, Sharika Nelvis took 4th with the same time. British champion, Tiffany Porter faded away towards the end of the race despite an impressive start. She was 5th with 12.66s.
Bershawn Jackson returned to winning ways in the men’s 400m, blowing away the rest of the field with an impressive time of 48.71s. South Africa’s Lj Van Zyl followed with 48.92s while Denis Kudryavtsev was 3rd in 49.01 as Puerto Rico’s Javier Culson finished 4th with 49.33s. Sara Petersen (55.01s) dominated the women’s race as she denied African champion, Wenda Theron Nel (55.78s) the top spot. Australia’s Lauren Wells was 3rd in 56.25s.
WR holder and Olympic champion in the men’s 800m, David Rudisha almost took the day but was overtaken by Botswana’s Nijel Amos on the home straight, leaving him in 2nd position while world champion, Mohammed Aman finished a distant 8th.
The Ethiopian had led in the first lap but was gasping for breath in the final round, giving room for Rudisha to take over. The Kenyan comfortably maintained the lead, not knowing that he had merely set the pace for Amos to take over. The Commonwealth champion won the race in 1:43.27 against Rudisha’s time of 1:43.76 while compatriot, Ferguson Rotich Cheruiyot was 3rd with a time of 1:44.44.
Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands overcame the threat posed by USA’s Jenny Simpson, finishing in 1st place in the women’s 1500m in 4:02.36. Kenya’s Faith Chepngetich Kipyegon (4:03.38) and Simpson (4:03.54) were 2nd and 3rd respectively. Virginia Nyambura continued her winning streak in the women’s 3000m Steeplechase, clocking a Meeting Record (MR) of 9:16.99 ahead of Hiwot Ayalew (9:17.22) and Emma Coburn (9:20.67).
Mo Farah was undeterred by the doping controversy that has trailed his coach (Alberto Salazar) and training partner (Galen Rupp), winning the 5000m ahead of Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha. The double Olympic champion pumped his fists in jubilation as he crossed the finishing line in 13:11.77, with the Ethiopian in 2nd place (13:12.59) while Kenya’s Edwin Cheruiyot Soi settled for 3rd in 13:17.17.
One of the highlights of the field events at the Lausanne Diamond League was Christian Taylor’s victory over Cuba’s Pedro Pablo Pichardo in the men’s Triple Jump.
