China’s Su takes second straight indoor men’s 60m win at Birmingham

Chinese sprinter Su Bingtian won the men’s 60 meters title with a season best of 6.47 seconds at the IAAF World Indoor Tour meeting in Birmingham on Saturday.

Su, the fastest Asian-born athlete in history, beat local hero Reece Prescod to second place, although Prescod ran his personal best of 6.53 seconds. Michael Rodgers of the US was third in 6.54.

It was Su’s second victory following his season-opening win four days ago in Athlone, Ireland, where his winning time was 6.52.

“I don’t think the titles are important for me,” Su told Xinhua.

“The most important thing is the time. I just want to know the effect of my winter training.

“I did not set a target in Ireland because it was my first race this season. But before this race, I told myself to try 6.48. So I am very happy to run 6.47.”

Su is looking to complete a hat trick of indoor wins when he competes at the World Indoor Tour finals in Dusseldorf, Germany on Wednesday.

“I hope to run faster there. I know it will be tough. After two races in four days, I feel a little tired but I need to face the challenge,” he said.

After a successful indoor season last year, where he improved his own 60 meters Asian record three times en route to grabbing a landmark silver medal, he went on to clock 9.91 seconds twice in 10 days in the 100 meters, leveling the continental record set by Nigeria-born Qatari Femi Ogunode in 2016.

Su aims higher in a year when the World Championships will be held in Doha in Septemeber. A medal in the 100 meters will put his name in the world athletics history book.

“My aim is to dip under 9.90 seconds,” he said. “My aim is to win medals for China and make history. But you cannot just talk about that. You need to work harder.”

Since all-time great Usain Bolt retired, Su might have a better chance in Doha.