Liu is season's fastest
(Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2006-05-30 08:50 Olympic and world champion Justin Gatlin clocked 9.88 seconds to outperform
joint world record holder Asafa Powell in separate 100 meters races.
Gatlin used his powerful acceleration from about 40 meters to win the first
race convincingly before Powell took the second in a wind-assisted 9.93 seconds.
Gatlin matched Powell's world record of 9.77 seconds on May 12.
"It proves I am here to protect my house," American Gatlin told reporters. "I
am a patriot of America and I came here to put on a great show and that's what I
did.
"I stumbled the first couple of steps, but it wasn't as swift as it could
be," Gatlin said. "I had two fast starters on my side (Michael) Frater and
Leonard (Scott)... Me and Leonard bumped arms three times during the race, so it
got a little ugly but I made it through and prevailed."
Scott was second in 10.16 seconds and Jamaican world silver medalist Frater
third in 10.17.
Powell slowed over the closing stages of his race but played down injury
fears.
Powell and Gatlin shook hands after Powell's race and both said they were
looking forward to racing head-to-head, though a proposed June 11 meeting in
Gateshead, England, has been canceled.
"Both of us are the best in the world, so any time we meet it is going to be
great," Powell said.
In Hengelo, Netherlands, Marion Jones easily won the 100 meter sprint on
Sunday at the FBK Games, finishing in 11.16 seconds. Jones started slow, but hit
her stride in the middle of the race and pulled away from the rest of the field.
"A win is a win," Jones said. "I am extremely delighted."
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