Justin Gatlin wins Ostrava 100m in 9.86s as Brits Bianca Williams and Niall Flannery shine
Last Updated: 19/06/14 12:04pm
Justin Gatlin set a new world-leading time for 2014 in the 100 metres as he won the Golden Spike event in Ostrava in 9.86 seconds.
The 32-year-old American has now run the four fastest times over the distance this year as world record holder Usain Bolt recovers from a foot injury.
On a sunny evening in the Czech Republic Gatlin crossed the line ahead of Mike Rodgers and Kim Collins, who clocked times of 10.08s and 10.12s respectively.
"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.
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"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."
Gatlin, who has served two separate doping bans during his career, has a personal best of 9.79s, set during the London Olympics in 2012.
He added: "Hopefully (I'll get) to the low 9.7s, maybe high 9.6s. 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.”
Meanwhile, British sprinter Bianca Williams came second in the women’s 200m after finishing just nine hundredths of a second behind four-time Olympic gold medallist Allyson Felix, who clocked 22.75s.
There was British success in the men’s 400m hurdles with Niall Flannery taking the victory in 48.80s ahead of Rasmus Magi and Olympic decathlon champion Ashton Eaton.
LaShawn Merrit took victory in the men’s 400m while pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie won his 11th event in a row.
