The Hindu : Sport / Athletics : Obikwelu exacts his vengeance

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 15, 2005

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Sport - Athletics

Obikwelu exacts his vengeance

DOHA: Athens silver medallist Francis Obikwelu of Portugal upstaged Olympic champion Justin Gatlin of the United States to win the 100m in the Qatar Super Grand Prix on Friday.

Obikwelu, in his first race of the year, clocked the year's best time of 10.05 seconds. Shaun Crawford and teammate Gatlin timed 10.14 together, but the photo finish placed Crawford before Gatlin, who won in Osaka, Japan last week.

Obikwelu's effort was a Doha meet record, beating Canadian Donovan Bailey's 10.07 set in May 1998.

"I must say that I am not surprised to have won a race that included Justin also, because I trained very hard for my first race of the season," Nigerian-born Obikwelu said.

"You can say that this is sweet revenge for me. I lost to him at the games, but today I was the better runner. I was waiting for this moment."

It was also Crawford's first race of the year: "I am pretty satisfied. Your first race tells you what you need to work on and now I know what I have to do in my next assignments."

Gatlin looked dejected but said he was shrugging off the result.

In the men's 110m hurdles, Stanislav Olijars of Latvia also surprised by outrunning Olympic champion Terrence Trammell of the United States. Olijars, running next to Trammell in the fifth lane, won in 13.11, also a meet record. Trammell finished in 13.18 while third was grabbed by Redelem Melo Do Santas of Brazil at 13.30.

The men's 400m went to Nagmendin-Ali Abubakr of Sudan in a time of 45.52 seconds. Tyree Washington of the United States took second at 45.53, followed by Olleyne Franciqe of Grenada at 45.70.

Kenyan-born Saif Saeed Shaheen of Qatar picked up the gold medal in the non-Olympic race of 2,000m with a time of 5 minutes, 14.53 seconds. In second was Wesley Kiprotich of Kenya, followed by compatriot Ronald Rutto Kipchumba.

In the women's 100m hurdles, Delloreen Ennis-London of Jamaica overcame a slow start to win in 12.77, beating Danielle Carruthers and Yolanda McCray, both of the United States.

The women's 200m was won by Allyson Felix of the United States in 22.78, with Christine Amertil of Bahamas second at 22.95, and Amy Mbacke Thiam of Senegal third on 23.10.

Athens champion Tatyana Lebedeva of Russia won the long jump with a leap of 6.70 meters. Silver went to Bianca Kappeler of Germany at 6.55, and bronze to Fiona May of Italy with 6.47. India's Anju Bobby George finished fourth.

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