OSTRAVA, Czech Republic: Justin Gatlin showed his dominance on the 100-metre track as he set a new world-leading time of 9.86sec for an easy win at the Czech Golden Spike event yesterday.
The 32-year-old American sprinter has now run the four fastest sprints this season in which he has so far failed to take on the world’s fastest man Usain Bolt, who is recovering from a foot injury.
On a sunny but windy evening in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava, Gatlin beat compatriot Mike Rodgers (10.08) and veteran former world champion Kim Collins, 38, of St Kitts and Nevis (10.12).
“I feel good, to come out here, to run another world-leading time. I was looking at a better time but I’m very happy with it,” Gatlin said after the race.
“I felt Kim Collins right there especially for the first couple of steps (but then) I came up and I started turning over, I think my turnover rate is higher, stronger this year.”
“(The wind) was kind of going back and forth, I just blocked it out,” added the 2004 Olympic champion, who served a four-year ban for doping between 2006-10.
After easing through the finish line, he reprimanded himself for slowing too early.
“Once I get to do some other races where the competition will be rested and stronger, I have to make sure that I run to the line,” said Gatlin.
With a personal best of 9.79sec from the 2012 London Olympics at which he won the bronze, Gatlin is eyeing an improvement following his impressive streak this year.
“Hopefully (I’ll get) to the low 9.7’s, maybe high 9.6’s.
“I’ll go home and rest, have a big break, about two weeks, and after that go to Lausanne, Monaco, Linz, so there’s going to be some more races in Europe,” he explained, adding he would skip the US championships at end-June.
Gatlin also bemoaned Bolt’s absence from the Ostrava meet where he had been due to run before pulling out two weeks ago.
“I’m a true competitor at heart, I want to race against the best,” said Gatlin.
“I hope (Bolt) gets better, hope his foot heals up, and hopefully I’ll see him this year or maybe next year.”
Right now I’m glad I’m battling against Kim Collins as one of the greatest athletes out there in the world.” AFP
