BEIJING, May 21: American David Oliver achieved the world’s best performance of the year in the 110m hurdles when clocked 13.16 to win the event at the IAAF World Challenge here on Tuesday.

Oliver finished with a comfortable lead over Jamaican Dwight Thomas and compatriot Jason Richardson.

Justin Gatlin ran the 100m in 9.91, the second fastest time of the season following his victory in 9.97 in Doha ten days ago. Tyson Gay has the season’s best time with 9.86 he clocked in Kingston two weeks ago.

Gatlin crossed the line ahead of compatriot Michael Rodgers and China’s Su Bingtian. Su finished on 10.06secs, marginally off the 10.04secs national record set last month by Zhang Peimeng, who came fifth in Beijing.

Meanwhile, 400m specialist and Beijing Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt won the 200m event ahead of compatriot Jeremy Dodson and Chinese star Xie Zhenye.

Long-jumper Li Jinzhe boosted his reputation as one of China’s greatest track and field hopes with his second victory over a strong field in three days after he won at the Shanghai Diamond Athletics meet on Saturday.

Li beat 2008 Olympic Champion Irving Saladino at the scene of the Panamanian’s greatest triumph, leading the field with a jump of 8.31 at China’s iconic National Stadium.

In the women’s events, reigning Olympic champion Allyson Felix won the 200m with ease.

The USA sprint star pushed her compatriots LaShauntea Moore and Ebonie Floyd into second and third with a time of 22.36secs.

Nigerian Blessing Okagbare took the 100m event in 11.04, beating Mikele Barber and the Gabonese Ruddy Zang Milama.

American Kellie Wells took the 100m hurdles, timing 12.87.

World and Olympic champion Tatyana Lysenko of Russia won the women’s hammer throw while her compatriot and another reigning Olympic and world champion Anna Chicherova cleared 2.02 meters to win the women’s high jump title.

Leading results: Men’s: 100 metres: 1. Justin Gatlin (US) 9.91 seconds; 2. Michael Rodgers (US) 9.96; 3. Su Bingtian (China) 10.06. 200 metres: 1. LaShawn Merritt (US) 20.40 seconds; 2. Jeremy Dodson (US) 20.62; 3. Xie Zhenye (China) 20.66. 800 metres: 1. Alfred Kirwa Yego (Kenya) 1:46.43; 2. Edwin Kiplagat Melly (Kenya) 1:46.46; 3. Nicholas Kiplangat Kipkoech (Kenya) 1:47.50. 110-metre hurdles: 1. David Oliver (US) 13.16 seconds; 2. Dwight Thomas (Jamaica) 13.44; 3. Jason Richardson (US) 13.48. 3,000-metre steeplechase: 1. Hillary Kipsang Yego (Kenya) 8:09.17; 2. Brimin Kiprop Kipruto (Kenya) 8:15.19; 3. Gilbert Kiplangat Kirui (Kenya) 8:15.67. High jump: 1. Wang Yu (China) 2.33 metres; 2. Aleksandr Shustov (Russia) 2.31; 3. Zhang Guowei (China) 2.25. Long jump: 1. Li Jinzhe (China) 8.31 metres; 2. Ignisious Gaisah (Ghana) 8.13; 3. Ngonidzashe Makusha (Zimbabwe) 8.04. Pole vault: 1. Igor Bychkov (Spain) 5.60 metres; 2. Vladyslav Revenko (Ukraine) 5.50; 3. Yang Yansheng (China) 5.40. Triple jump: 1. Cao Shuo (China) 16.72 metres; 2. Chris Carter (US) 16.69; 3. Karol Hoffmann (Poland) 16.57. Javelin throw: 1. Dmitri Tarabin (Russia) 81.11 metres; 2. Vitezslav Vesely (Czech Republic) 80.81; 3. Ari Mannio (Finland) 80.65. Women’s: 100 metres: 1. Blessing Okagbare (Nigeria) 11.04 seconds; 2. Mikele Barber (US) 11.30; 3. Ruddy Zang Milama (Gabon) 11.32. 200 metres: 1. Allyson Felix (US) 22.36 seconds; 2. LaShauntea Moore (US) 22.85; 3. Ebonie Floyd (US) 23.19. 1,500 metres: 1. Eunice Jepkoech Sum (Kenya) 4:04.49; 2. Mary Kuria (Kenya) 4:05.17; 3. Nelly Jepkosgei (Kenya) 4:08.59. 100-metre hurdles: 1. Kellie Wells (US) 12.87 seconds; 2. Ginnie Crawford (US) 13.03; 3. Alina Talay (Belarus) 13.09. High jump: 1. Anna Chicherova (Russia) 2.02 metres; 2. Ana Simic (Croatia) 1.95; 3. Nadiya Dusanova (Uzbekistan) 1.92. Long jump: 1. Tori Polk (US) 6.58 metres; 2. Funmi Jimoh (US) 6.55; 3. Teresa Dobija (Poland) 6.31. Shot put: 1. Liu Xiangrong (China) 18.73 metres; 2. Michelle Carter (US) 18.70; 3. Jeneva McCall (US) 18.23. Hammer throw: 1. Tatyana Lysenko (Russia) 73.12 metres; 2. Eva Orban (Hungary) 73.00; 3. Wang Zheng (China) 71.91. Javelin throw: 1. Sinta Ozolina-Kovala (Latvia) 60.90 metres; 2. Maria Abakumova (Russia) 60.26; 3. Hanna Hatsko (Ukraine) 59.28.—Agencies