Gatlin, Felix outsprint Jamaicans at Doha meet
Source: Agencies |
May 13, 2012, Sunday
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THE United States got the better of sprint rival Jamaica in the season-opening Diamond League meeting in Doha, Qatar, on Friday, with 100-meter victories for Justin Gatlin and Allyson Felix.
Gatlin overcame the steamy desert heat and a poor start to run down a tiring Asafa Powell in the closing stages to win in 9.87 seconds while Felix, better known as a 200 runner, pipped Jamaica's former world champion Veronica Campbell-Brown in 10.92.
Despite a desperate lunge for the line, Campbell-Brown was second in 10.94 and Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce took third with 11.00.
"It was very good to get one over Campbell, especially at 100 meters," said Felix. "Jamaica has some really good racers, and I think the rivalry is good."
Powell was ahead for most of the men's race but finished 0.01 seconds behind Gatlin and put his defeat down to the effects of travelling from Jamaica.
"The jet-lag is in my legs. I tried to go, but my legs just wouldn't go there," he told reporters.
"It's only the first race, so I'm feeling good," added Powell whose compatriot and world record holder Usain Bolt recorded 9.82, the fastest time of the year, in his first individual race of the season last weekend.
Feeling good
Gatlin, the world indoor 60-meter champion, was confident he had more to offer.
"I thought I was sluggish in the beginning, but I showed that there's a lot left in these legs," said the American, whose world gold in Istanbul in March was his first since serving a four-year ban for doping which ended in 2010.
Bolt skipped the meet, as did Tyson Gay of the United States who is recovering from injury.
Kenya's world record holder David Rudisha eased away from compatriot Job Kinyor over the final 50 meters to win the men's 800 in 1:43.10, the fastest time of the year.
Ethiopia's double Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele could only manage seventh in his first track 3,000 since 2009, finishing almost 10 seconds behind winner Augustine Choge of Kenya whose time of 7:30.42 was the quickest of the year.
Eliud Kipchoge was second in 7:31.40 while Bekele, Olympic champion over 5,000 and 10,000, struggled to 7:40.00, which he attributed to missing a week of training.
The 29-year-old has grappled with injury over the past two years and has yet to decide if he will attempt the distance double at the London Games.
Gatlin overcame the steamy desert heat and a poor start to run down a tiring Asafa Powell in the closing stages to win in 9.87 seconds while Felix, better known as a 200 runner, pipped Jamaica's former world champion Veronica Campbell-Brown in 10.92.
Despite a desperate lunge for the line, Campbell-Brown was second in 10.94 and Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce took third with 11.00.
"It was very good to get one over Campbell, especially at 100 meters," said Felix. "Jamaica has some really good racers, and I think the rivalry is good."
Powell was ahead for most of the men's race but finished 0.01 seconds behind Gatlin and put his defeat down to the effects of travelling from Jamaica.
"The jet-lag is in my legs. I tried to go, but my legs just wouldn't go there," he told reporters.
"It's only the first race, so I'm feeling good," added Powell whose compatriot and world record holder Usain Bolt recorded 9.82, the fastest time of the year, in his first individual race of the season last weekend.
Feeling good
Gatlin, the world indoor 60-meter champion, was confident he had more to offer.
"I thought I was sluggish in the beginning, but I showed that there's a lot left in these legs," said the American, whose world gold in Istanbul in March was his first since serving a four-year ban for doping which ended in 2010.
Bolt skipped the meet, as did Tyson Gay of the United States who is recovering from injury.
Kenya's world record holder David Rudisha eased away from compatriot Job Kinyor over the final 50 meters to win the men's 800 in 1:43.10, the fastest time of the year.
Ethiopia's double Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele could only manage seventh in his first track 3,000 since 2009, finishing almost 10 seconds behind winner Augustine Choge of Kenya whose time of 7:30.42 was the quickest of the year.
Eliud Kipchoge was second in 7:31.40 while Bekele, Olympic champion over 5,000 and 10,000, struggled to 7:40.00, which he attributed to missing a week of training.
The 29-year-old has grappled with injury over the past two years and has yet to decide if he will attempt the distance double at the London Games.
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