American sprinter Justin Gatlin’s preparations for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics got off to a solid start with a commanding win in the 100m at the Shanghai Diamond League meet yesterday.
Gatlin easily won the 100m in 9.94 seconds, several strides ahead of Qatar’s Femi Ogunode in second.
Mike Rodgers of the US finished fourth in a time of 10.10 seconds.
Photo: AFP
Gatlin’s main rival in Rio, Olympic and world champion Usain Bolt, did not compete in Shanghai.
Olympic 800m champion David Rudisha of Kenya faded on the final straight and finished fifth after a poor start.
He blamed his falter on field competitors crowding the track.
Rudisha was passed by countryman Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich, who won the 800m in 1 minute, 45.68 seconds.
Robert Biwott (1:45.84 3) and Alfred Kipketer (1:45.93) made it one-two-three for Kenya.
In the men’s 5,000m, Muktar Edris of Ethiopia won in 12 minutes, 59.96 seconds, ahead of Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda (13:00.60) and Thomas Pkemei Longosiwa of Kenya (13:01.69).
Meanwhile, Bolt says he still dreams of playing for Manchester United — as long as Louis van Gaal is not the manager.
Bolt, who owns the 100m world record at 9.58 seconds and the world 200m record of 19.19 seconds said Van Gaal has not used players in the proper positions and that has led to disappointing performances by the English Premier League club.
“I supported Manchester United for years,” Bolt said. “I would still love to play for them, but if Louis van Gaal is the coach, not so much.”
Additional reporting by AFP
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