BY RIZWAN REHMAT
DOHA: American sprinter Justin Gatlin yesterday laid down the marker for the rest of the season by storming to a convincing win in the season’s opening 100m duel.
Looking in imperious running form, Gatlin clocked a new meet record time of 9.74 seconds, eclipsing his personal best of 9.77s, in front of a cheering crowd at the Qatar Sports Club Stadium here.
Gatlin, 33, erased Asafa Powell’s 2015 world-leading time of 9.84s recorded last week. The American sprinter also obliterated Olusoji Adetokunbo Fasuba’s Doha meet record time of 9.85s set in 2006.
Gatlin’s previous best time of 9.77s was recorded in Brussels last year.
Earlier in humid conditions, American sprint queen Allyson Felix posted her 19th Diamond League win as the American out-sprinted Murielle Ahoure of Ivory Coast and Anthonique Strachan of the Bahamas in the women’s 200m.
The 29-year-old American clocked a time of 21.98s that gave her the world-leading time for this year and a new meet record. The previous best was recorded by Romania’s Ionela Tirlea-Manolache (22.35s) in 1999.
Ahoure (22.29s) and Strachan (22.69s) also managed to register their season’s best times.
In a shock result, Ethiopia’s Hagos Gebrhiwet stunned double Olympic and world champion Mohammed ‘Mo’ Farah of Britain in the 3,000m.
Gebrhiwet clocked a time of 7:38.08 to edge Farah in the tense run. Farah clocked 7:38.22 while Kenya’s Thomas Pkemei Longosiwa (7:39.22s) finished third.
Gatlin, who picked up a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games behind Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake, yesterday edged compatriot Michael Rodgers (9.96s) and Trinidad and Tobago’s Keston Bledman (10.01s) on way to his big win.
“It was a magical night for me,” Gatlin said. “I won as I did on the previous races here in Doha but I ran even faster.”
“I put in a great show for the fans. I have been in training hard for that. Doha is a great place for me. It is a popular meeting here. I was invited again this season and with my performance I sent a statement,” he said with a smile.
Also yesterday, American sprinter Bershawn Jackson produced a meet record time of 48.09s to seal an impressive win in the men’s 400m hurdles.
Jackson bettered L.J. Van Zyl’s previous best time of 48.11s posted in 2011.
The 22-year-old finished the season’s first race ahead of Puerto Rico’s Javier Culson, who managed a season best time of 48.96s. Ireland’s Thomas Barr (48.99s) finished third.
“What was important for me today was to have a great race and not the time,” Jackson said. “I am glad I broke the meeting record. People doubted me last year but it was the injury problems that pulled me back.”
“I proved I can still run fast. I have been in the circuit for many years but don’t forget that I started competing when I was 19 and I still have a lot to give,” he said.
Ayanleh Souleiman of Djibouti managed a world-leading time of 1:43.78 for his win in the men’s 800m final.
Souleiman finished ahead of the Kenyan duo of Rotich Ferguson Cheruiyot (1:44.53) and Alfred Kipketer (1:44.59).
“I am happy that I beat a lot of big names,” Souleiman said. “But that is my goal this year — I want to win all the races until the end of the season, including the World Championships in Beijing.”
“The 800m is a good preparation for my main discipline. Doha is my place. I feel like at home here,” he said.
Germany’s David Storl overcame Reese Hoffa’s season-best distance to win the men’s shot put gold. Storl produced the day’s best throw of 21.51m on his second attempt to pick up four points in the season-opening competition.
Hoffa’s season-best 21.30m earned him two points. Third-placed Ryan Whiting finished the proceedings with 21.06m throw that got him his first points of the season.
Whiting said: “I love throwing here in Doha, the weather conditions are ideal. I am starting to get my rhythm; I am in shape for better, but today I’ll take it.”
He added: “I will now get back home, then go to Prefontaine, maybe Rome, then New York, the Nationals and of course the world championships.”
Earlier, Felix, 29, rarely looked in trouble as she stormed to her 19th Diamond League win in the women’s 200m.
“I am really happy today,” Felix said. “A world lead, a meeting record and I equaled the Diamond League record. It’s a good start. I feel strong and my speed is good,” she said.
“I am looking forward to the next competitions, the world championships in August. Doha is always a special place for me, so thanks to the fans for their support,” the American added.
Minutes after Felix savoured her memorable run, American sprinter Jasmin Stowers won the women’s 100m hurdles ahead of compatriot Sharika Nelvis and Britain’s Tiffany Porter.
Stowers clocked a world-leading time of 12.35s, scripting a new meet and Diamond League record.
Nelvis registered a personal best time of 12.54s while Porter finished third with 12.65s.
“It’s been a great start to the season,” Stowers said. “It means a lot of competitions with such great women and athletes. It just feels great.”
“Now it’s Rome, New York and the US trials in late June. I definitely want to be at the world championships in Beijing,” Stowers said.
In the women’s 400m final, American sprinter Francena McCorory topped the race ahead of chief rival and compatriot Sanya Richards-Ross.
McCorory clocked 50.21s while Richards-Ross had to settle with 50.79s. Jamaican Stephanie Ann McPherson finished with a season-best time of 50.93s.
McCorory said: “It was a great race for me. I didn’t think about the rivals or time. I just wanted to run my own race. This is definitely a good performance for the world championships.”
Croatia’s Sandra Perkovic eased to a gold medal in the women’s discus throw, managing a distance of 68.10m.
Germany’s Nadine Muller (65.13m) finished second best while Australia’s Dani Samuels (64.45m) was third.
“I am satisfied with four points and with a win here in Doha,” Perkovic said. “But the result doesn’t make me happy. I came here with 71m that’s why my expectations were higher.”
“Of course, this is the second best throw of the season but I can do better,” the 24-year-old added.
Ethiopian teen Dawit Seyaum erased last week’s season-best time to win the women’s 1500m ahead of Dutch runner Sifan Hassan (4:01.40).
Seyaum’s time of 4:00.96 yesterday easily bettered Anna Mischenko’s time of 4:02.47, clocked last week.
Ethiopian runner Senbere Teferi managed a personal best time of 4:01.86 to finish third.
“I am happy I won today,” Seyaum, 18, said. “It was my first Diamond League with such a strong field. Thank you all to the supporters in Doha,” she added.
In the women’s long jump, American Tianna Bartoletta managed the world’s leading distance of 6.99m on her sixth and final attempt to get her season going on an impressive note.
Bartoletta said: “I feel very good about my jump and the world lead. Training has
been going really well and I am happy.”
The 19-year-old added: “It is my second time here in Doha. My first was back in 2006 and it feels great to be back.”
Britain’s Shara Proctor (6.95m) finished second while Canada’s Christabel Nettey (6.93m) ended in third place.
THE PENINSULA
