Gatlin puts away Powell, Gay in Lausanne Diamond League

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By trackalerts.com 7 Min Read

By Gary Smith, TrackAlerts.Com Contributor

LAUSANNE– Justin Gatlin flashed to a sizzling time of 9.75 seconds to beat a world-class field over 100m at the IAAF Diamond League in Lausanne on Thursday.

The controversial sprinter showed his pace and power over the final 60m to separate himself from the field on his way to equalling his own second-fastest time in the world this season.

Jamaican champion and former world record holder Asafa Powell was second in 9.92 secs with American champion Tyson Gay taking third after being awarded the same time.

“I’ve been wanting to go faster. During the race, I was in my zone and it felt really great,” Gatlin said.

“I’m happy for Tyson as well. One of my big objectives is the American record.”

Powell, meanwhile, didn’t run as fast as he had wanted, but the 2009 world champion remains confident.

“This wasn’t my best race, actually one of my slowest times for the season but I am still confident,” Powell, who struggled to hold his form in the last 20m said.

American Michael Rodgers took fourth in 10.03, the same time as Trinidad and Tobago’s Keston Bledman.

Cracking Personal Best For Miller

Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas sped to a new personal best time of 49.92 to win the women’s 400m – leaving some strong competitors, including London 2012 Olympic champion Sanya Richards-Ross trailing behind.

Miller, the former World Juniors and World Youth champion, got home in front of Richards-Ross of USA who clocked 51.12 and Jamaica’s Novlene Williams-Mills (51.15).

Sprinter Anyika Onuora of Great Britain ran a personal best of 51.26 for fourth, just ahead of USA’s Natasha Hastings (51.29).

Hughes Earns PR In 200m

Recently crowned Great Britain champion Zharnel Hughes, whose native country is Anguilla, won the men’s 200m title in a new personal best of 20.13 seconds.

“I am very happy today with my new personal best, but even more excited to see what time I will run in the remaining weeks because I work very hard in training,” he Hughes.

The 19-year-old admitted that he was disappointed at being drawn on the inside lane, but revealed that he just went out and follow his coach’s instructions.

“When I saw I received lane two I was disappointed, to be honest. But I spoke to my coach and he told me to get off the curve with the others and execute to the finish.”

He added: “My season has been going better with each race and now as British champion I look forward to doing well at the World Championships.

“For me the goal is to get into the final and then aim for the podium.”

Hughes, who trains at the Racers Track Club with the likes of Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake, beat South Africa’s Anaso Jobodwana (20.21) and American Isiah Young (20.27).

Jamaican champion Nickel Ashmeade, who went into the event as one of the favourites, finished dead last in a disappointing 20.98.

Allyson Felix Eases Home In Half Lap

Olympic champion Allyson Felix continues to look good in her world championships preparations after she produced a swift 22.09 secs to get the better of a women’s 200m field solid field.

“The race was good. I have a few 400m runs in me so I used my strength to hold my form and separate myself towards the end,” Felix said.

The U.S. Trials 400m champion leads the world in the half lap with a brisk 21.98 secs and she is debating a 200/400 double in Beijing, next month.

She, however, confessed that the time schedule is making it a little difficult for her to attempt such a rare combination.

Meanwhile, following Felix home was the Netherlands Dafne Schippers, at 22.29, with double world championships silver medallist Murielle Ahoure of the Ivory Coast getting third in 22.36, while American Collegiate champion Dezerea Bryant finishing fourth in 22.63.

“It’s a great atmosphere here in Lausanne and it’s really good to run here,” Felix added.

“My next stop is Monaco and of course I’m looking forward to Beijing where I hope to run very fast!

Elsewhere on the day Great Britain’s world and Olympic champion Mo Farah out-sprinted Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia in the final 100m to take the men’s 5000m.

Farah won the race in 13:11:77 ahead of Kejelcha, who clocked 13:12.59 for second place.

In the men’s 800m race, world record holder David Rudisha had to settle for second after he was out-paced in the home straight by Botswana’s Nijel Amos, who won in a seasonal best time of 1:43.27.

Rudisha, who led the race until the final 100m trailed home in the runner-up spot with a time of 1:43.76.

In the meantime, in the field, there was an outstanding performance Olympic champion Christian Taylor, who won the men’s Triple Jump title meeting and Diamond League record of 18.06m, which matches his career best from Doha, earlier this year.

After trailing Cuban world-leader Pedro Pablo Pichardo for much of the contest, the American leaped 18.02m in the fifth round to take the lead before stretching to winning mark in the final round.

Pichardo, who leads the world with a best jump of 18.08m, went 17.99m on Thursday night for second place. 

He had one heck of a jump in the fifth-round, but was flagged for a scratch.

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