Justin Gatlin could be the man to beat this year, powering to his second successive victory in four days to win the men’s 100m in 9.94s at the IAAF World Challenge in Beijing, China.
In a scene where he narrowly lost the men’s 100m world title last year, Gatlin made a return to the Bird’s Nest Stadium and this time around, held off the challenge of his fellow American Mike Rodgers who finished 2nd in 9.97s. Zhenye Xie placed 3rd clocking 10.12s.
This is the second 9.94s Gatlin is running this season, albeit in four days, having won in Shanghai last Saturday with the same time. He opened up his season in Japan with 10.02s, but he will be happy at how he is now stepping it down now with consistent sub 10s.
Usain Bolt opened his season with a 10.05s last weekend, and 2012 Olympic Silver medallist, Yohan Blake is announcing his comeback with style having already run 10.03s and 9.95s this season.
One thing is certain: the men’s 100m is going to be very competitive at the Rio 2016 Olympics, and Gatlin is certainly a major challenger.
Meanwhile, Ivory Coast’s Murielle Ahoure followed up her 200m win last weekend with another victory in the women’s 100m, running a time of 11.06s. Ivet Lalova-Collio finished 2nd in 11.11s with Candyce McGrone 3rd in 11.18s.
In the women’s 200m, Veronica Campbell-Brown clocked 22.29s to take the win as her compatriot, Simone Facey was 2nd in 22.63s and Tiffany Towsend 3rd in 23.06s.
In the men’s 110m Hurdles, Aries Merrit was back to winning ways, running a time of 13.24s. Wenjun Xie finished 2nd in 13.48s with Ronnie Ash 3rd in 13.67s.
Kenya’s Hellen Obiri set a new Meeting Record (MR) of 4:02.11 to win the 1500m as Betlhem Desalegn came in 2nd in 4:03.70 and Nelly Jepkosgei 3rd in 4:04.26.
In the Field events, the biggest story came from USA’s Sam Kendricks in the men’s Pole Vault as he showed that his victory at the Shanghai Diamond League was no fluke, having defeated a stacked line up that included World Record (WR) holder, Renaud Lavillenie.
Kendricks scaled 5.92m, which was the winning mark, and best mark by an American pole vaulter since June 2008. Piotr Lisek finished 2nd scaling 5.70m, same height as Changrui Xue who finished 3rd. There was to be no winning return for World Champion Shawnacy Barber who was 6th in 5.60m.
In the men’s High Jump, Majd Eddin Ghazal twice set a Syrian National Record in one day as he claimed the win going past 2.36m. Chinese duo of Yu Wang and Zhao Sun finished 2nd and 3rd respectively at 2.25m each.
