ROME: American sprinter Justin Gatlin won his third successive Rome Golden Gala 100m when he clocked 9.75 seconds at the Olympic stadium on Thursday to snatch the track record from Jamaican rival Usain Bolt, who clocked 9.76 on his way to victory in 2012.

Gatlin, 33, has faced a barrage of criticism since clocking a lifetime best of 9.74 seconds at the opening Diamond League event in Doha from sceptics who point out he has served two doping bans.

On Thursday he shot out of the blocks to lead from start to finish and finish in an unofficial 9.74 seconds which was rounded up by one hundredth of a second.

Then the American declared he could approach Bolt’s world record of 9.58 at the world championships in Beijing in August. “I feel confident running times around 9.70,” Gatlin said. “9.60 should be possible in summer.”

With the wind in his favour, Gatlin finished several strides ahead of the rest of the field then flexed his biceps for photographers in the finish area.

European indoor champion Jimmy Vicaut crossed second in 9.98, and Gatlin’s fellow American, Mike Rodgers, was third with the same time.

Given the scrutiny surrounding Gatlin, it was the highlight of a meet that nevertheless saw Croatian high jumper Blanka Vlasic cap her return to competition with a promising second place behind Spain’s Ruth Beitia.

Vlasic finished second at 1.97, and appeared content after three injury-plagued seasons. She wiggled a little dance after clearing 1.94 on her third try then unleashed a fist pump when she made 1.97 on her first attempt. Olympic champion Anna Chicherova settled for sixth at 1.94.

Elsewhere, France’s Renaud Lavillenie failed on three attempts to clear 6.01m in the men’s pole vault, settling for victory after clearing 5.91.

The men’s triple jump was notable for a Cuban podium sweep although Pablo Pedro Pichardo, who leapt a world leading 18.08m, took the win with an attempt of 17.96.

Compatriots Alexis Copello and Ernesto Reve completed the podium with attempts of 17.15 and 16.89 respectively.

Also in the fourth stop of the Diamond League, Olympic champion Sally Pearson of Australia sustained a broken left wrist after hitting the fifth obstacle in the 100 hurdles. She underwent surgery in Rome early on Friday.

The world championships, where Pearson is defending champion in the hurdles, begin on Aug 22. American rival Brianna Rollins also failed to finish, while Sharika Nelvis of the United States won in a personal-best 12.52.

Jeneba Tarmoh of the United States won the women’s 200m in 22.77 after Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce withdrew.

Also, Johnny Dutch won the 400 hurdles in 48.13, edging fellow American and Olympic silver medallist Michael Tinsley by 0.21.

The 17-year-old world junior champion Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia won the men’s 5,000m in 12:58.39, the year’s best time. And Mohammed Aman, another Ethiopian, clocked 1:43.56 in the 800m for another fastest time of the year.

Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2015

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