Justin Gatlin hits form ahead of Olympics
By Peter Gilbert
Last Updated: 29/05/16 12:07pm
Justin Gatlin warmed up for this summer’s Olympics by running the fastest 100m time of the year at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League meeting in Eugene, Oregon.
Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic champion who was banned for doping between 2006 and 2010, led from start to finish to in a wind-assisted 9.88 seconds at Eugene's Hayward Field.
The 34-year-old showed he is rounding into form ahead of the Rio Olympics, taking the tape ahead of Jamaican Asafa Powell and American Tyson Gay.
Former world record holder Powell finished second in a time of 9.94sec while defending Prefontaine champion Gay crossed in 9.98sec. The race was run with a strong tail-wind of 2.6 m/s.
Femi Ogunode, fastest man in the world this year, was fifth in 10.02secs.
"I felt like I had a pretty strong start, commanded the race to the halfway point and just held onto my form," said Gatlin.
"I felt a couple of guys come on strong at the end but I just stayed focussed on my last 20 metres and I came out with the victory."
US team-mate Kendra Harrison ran the fastest women's 100m hurdles in 28 years when she finished just shy of the long-standing world record of 12.21 as she stormed to victory in 12.24.
"She stole my shine," admitted Gatlin. "It is an amazing feat."
Harrison has been unstoppable this year as she is the Olympic favourite in an event that is being dominated by Americans who took the top five spots on Saturday.
"I am still in shock right now," said Harrison. "That was just amazing."
"I didn't feel that fast but I felt really smooth. When you go out there and just execute and don't worry about a time that is when the fast times come."
Britain's Tiffany Porter, 28, finished seventh behind Harrison.
