The Sprints rank among the most explosive events in Track and Field. In 2015, the globe’s Top Sprinters did not disappoint as most of them posted eye-catching performances at the 15th IAAF World Championships in Beijing and the Diamond League (DL) series. Here are our Top 6 Sprinters who ruled the world in 2015!
6. JUSTIN GATLIN
For the first time in a long while, Usain Bolt’s reign as Ultimate Sprint King was threatened and USA’s Justin Gatlin was the man behind this revolution. The controversial athlete returned from a four-year ban in August 2010 and ended up running the best times of his life in subsequent years, stoking even more fire to his controversial image.
Gatlin ended 2014 as the world No.1 in the 100m/200m, having been unbeaten in all races that year. He clocked a then Personal Best (PB) and World Lead (WL) of 9.77s at the DL in Brussels and then completed a double by winning the 200m.
The 33-year old continued his winning streak in 2015, commencing his season with a resounding victory at the Doha DL where he set a PB, WL and Meeting Record (MR) of 9.74s, taking him to 5th position on the all-time list! The American 4x100m men’s relay team also finished ahead of Jamaica at the IAAF World Relays in Bahamas, giving an indication that the US was leaving no stone un-turned in regaining its No.1 position in Athletics.
This heightened expectations ahead of the 2015 World Championships as the rest of the world was eager to see if Gatlin could challenge Bolt’s invincible status. The pair never competed against each other in an individual race until the final of the men’s 100m at the World Championships in Beijing.
Gatlin had already won all preliminary races, posting the fastest times overall in the heats and semis (9.83s and 9.77s). However, he faltered towards the very end in the final and was edged out once more by the Jamaican, settling for Silver in 9.80s. He took another Silver medal in the 200m but maintained his Diamond Race Trophy in the 100m. He still ends 2015 as No.1 in the 100m.
