The Hindu : Sport / Athletics : Gatlin clinches 100m gold

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Sunday, May 08, 2005

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Sport - Athletics

Gatlin clinches 100m gold

OSAKA: Olympic gold medallist Justin Gatlin of the United States won the men's 100 metres on Saturday at the IAAF Japan Grand Prix.

Gatlin, who won the 100 at the Athens Olympics, clocked a time of 10.15 seconds ahead of fellow American Brian Lewis in 10.28 and Obadele Thompson of Barbados with 10.30.

``It was a good race,'' said Gatlin. ``There was a strong headwind and I had a bit of jet lag. I felt a little twinge in my right hamstring but other than that I was pleased with the way things went.''

In Athens, Gatlin won the men's 100 in 9.85 seconds, beating four others who finished under 9.95.

Saturday's race was Gatlin's first Grand Prix this season. The American runner said on Friday he hoped to run under 10 seconds.

``I'd like to run under 10 but I'm more concerned with my health,'' said Gatlin. ``I'd rather run three 10.1s than no races at all.''

In the women's 100, Allyson Felix of the United States clocked a time of 11.30 to finish .09 seconds ahead of compatriot Angela Daigle. Japan's Tomoko Ishida was third in 11.73.

In men's pole vault, Australia's Dmitri Markov posted a jump of 5.75 metres for first place, while Athens gold medallist Timothy Mack of the United States finished a disappointing fifth with a jump of 5.60 metres.

China's Liu Xiang, who won gold in the 110-metre hurdles in Athens, had a time of 13.12 seconds to place first in the 110 hurdles.

China's Zhang Wenxiu won the women's hammer throw with a toss of 72.34 metres, leaving Olympic gold medallist Olga Kuzenkova of Russia in second with 69.77 metres. — Agencies

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