Christian Coleman wins 100m Gold
AFP - US sprinter Christian Coleman stamped his mark on world sprinting on Saturday with a dominant performance to sweep to the global 100 metres title and suggest the heir to retired Jamaican icon Usain Bolt has arrived.
The 23-year-old American, who escaped a doping ban earlier this month on a technicality, swept over the finish line in a world-leading personal best of 9.76 seconds to claim his first major outdoor championship gold medal.
Defending champion Justin Gatlin took silver in 9.89s at the age of 37 while Canada’s Andre De Grasse claimed bronze in 9.90s.
“It is an incredible time. It is a PR for me. I think the sky’s the limit, I think I still have a lot of things I can work on and improve, I think I can keep dropping my time,” the indoor 60m world record holder said.
There were also first world titles for Ethiopia-born Dutch distance runner Sifan Hassan in the 10,000m and Deanna Price of the United States, who celebrated victory in the Women’s hammer.
Price, 26, has only one kidney and suffered several serious injuries down the years.
Jamaica’s Tajay Gayle upset the form book to strike Men’s
long jump Gold, producing the leap of his life to defeat favourite Juan Miguel Echevarria.
The 23-year-old Gayle launched himself 8.69m with his fourth attempt while Cuba’s Echevarria only managed 8.34m for Bronze.
Day two concluded with all eyes on the Men’s and Women’s 50km walk races, with organisers nervously monitoring the progress of athletes chasing medals in sweltering conditions.
The Men’s race was won by Yusuke Suzuki, who became the first Japanese athlete to win the 50km Men’s race.
Suzuki’s pillar was almost outshone by Portugal’s Silver Medallist Joao Vieira who at 43 became the oldest male athlete to win a medal at the World Championships.
Canada’s Evan Dunfee took Bronze.
The Women’s race saw a Chinese 1-2 with Liang Rui taking Gold in 4 hours 23 minutes 26 seconds and Li Maocuo the Silver.
Italy’s Eleonora Giorgi took the Bronze - defending champion Ines Henriques failed to finish.