Van Niekerk storms 400m, Gatlin victorious
LAUSANNE: World record holder Wayde van Niekerk stormed to victory in the 400m at the Diamond League meet at Lausanne on Thursday, as American veteran Justin Gatlin went sub-10sec for the 100m.
Van Niekerk is on fire this season, having run personal bests in the 100m ( 9.94sec) and 200m ( 19.84) last month, and setting a new world best time of 30.81sec in the rarely-run 300m in Ostrava last week.
That time beat a long- time record held by Michael Johnson, the legendary US athlete whose record in the one- lap race he also beat when winning gold in Rio.
The 24-year- old timed a world lead of 43.62sec in Lausanne, wel l ahead of second- placed Botswana’s Baboloki Thebe. Van
I do have a love-hate relationship with the 400m, but I always try to approach it with a positive mindset, not setting myself any limits.
Niekerk has only run the 400m faster on two occasions: when he won his world title in Beijing in 2015; the other was a year later when he won Olympic gold.
Hailed by eight- time Olympic champion Usain Bolt as his successor as leader of the sprinting world, with t he Jamaican legend due to retire after the world championships in London in August, Van Niekerk said he was constantly inspired by his performances.
“I didn’t come with a specific time in mind but I am pleased with this result,” he said.
“I do h ave a lo v e - ha t e relationship with the 400m, but I always try to approach it with a positive mindset, not setting myself any limits.
“And the performances keep me going along, which keeps me passionate about what I do.”
Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic 100m champion who has served two doping bans, clocked 9.96sec in the 100m, nipping in ahead of Ivorian Youssef ben Meite ( 9.98) and South African sprint hope Akani Simbine. ( 9.99).
“I didn’t have a great start,” said Gatlin, 35.
“I’m not at my A- game at the moment and that sows I’m a human.
“I am still a competitor Now I will be able to go back to training knowing that my bases are are in place.”
Dutchwoman Dafne Schippers timed 22.10sec, a seasonal best, to win the 200m from Ivorian Marie- Josee Ta Lou (10.16).
“I imp ro v e d my be s t performance today and that makes me very happy,” said Schippers, the 2 015 world champion and silver medallist at the Rio Olympics last year.
“It’s always nice to win. My objective this summer is to get a medal in London,” where she will go for the sprint double, she said. — AFP
Wayde van Niekerk, world record holder