by Alfonz Juck
Justin Gatlin, photo by PhotoRun.netJapan 4×100 m World lead 37.85, Justin Gatlin wins 100 meters
OSAKA (JPN, May 20): Seiko Golden Grand Prix edition of 2018 (IAAF World Challenge) was held in Osaka, next year should be back to Tokyo. World leading (and MR) 4×100 m by Japan 37.85 (Yamagata, Iizuka, Kiryu and Cambridge) was the top result. Second Japan B 38.64 and third China 38.72 (Su as first runner). Other four meet records were registered in women events. Kenyan Emily Cherotich in 800 m 2:00.22, also Ethiopian Shuru Bulo 8:47.24 in the 3000 m. Pole vault saw Kristen Hixson clearing meet record 461 ahead of Canadian Anicka Newell and Belarus Iryna Zhuk both 451. Fourth MR in javelin by Chinese Liu Shiying 67.12 (also a PB) ahead of DL winner Lyu Huihui 64.55. Men 100 m saw World champion Justin Gatlin back to winning after Shanghai with 10.06 (-0.7) ahead of Ryota Yamagata 10.13 and Isiah Young also 10.13. Fast 200 m by Botswana´s Isaac Makwala with 19.96 (+0.9) beating Xie Zhenye to Chinese record 20.16 and Dedric Dukes third 20.32. Taipei´s Chen Kuei-Ru won the high hurdles in 13.49 (-0.4) PB, Takatoshi Abe scored home win in 400 m hurdles 48.97. IAAF Hammer Challenge started with World champion Pawel Fajdek winning 78.51 but second young Hungarian Bence Halasz 77.24 who beat all the other global medalists. Damien Birkinhead scored shot put win for Australia 20.42 with fourth Daichi Nakamura 18.85 Japanese record. Taipei´s Cheng Chao-Tsun achieved 81.69 in javelin over Chinese Liu Qizhen 81.53 PB. Naoto Tobe and Chinese Wang Yu cleared 230 in high jump to beat Commonwealth Games winner Brandon Starc 228. US wins for Scott Houston (550 pole vault) and Jarvis Gotch (795 +0.8 long jump). Moroccan Mostafa Smaili won the 800 m in 1:46.18 and Australian Ryan Gregson the 1500 m in 3:37.72. Women sprints saw Poland´s Justyna Ersetic-Swiety improving to 51.05 over the 400 m with US Dain Harper second 51.29. Chinese champion Wei Yongli won the windy 100 m in 11.17 (+2.3). In hurdles US Queen Harrison 13.01 (-0.6) and Canadian Sage Watson 55.58 ahead of Ukrainian Viktoriya Tkachuk 55.98 and Gianna Woodruff of Panama 56.05.
