by Larry Eder
GATLIN GETS FASTER 9.87
BEIJING (CHN, May 21): Second edition of Beijing IAAF World Challenge meet in Birds Nest saw the fastest 100 m sprint of the year as Olympic and World winner Justin Gatlin again without any wind support clocked 9.87. He still waits for favorable wind conditions. Second Mike Rodgers 10.03 and third Kim Collins 10.11. In total three world leads were registered in 23 degrees and clear skies as Croatian Ana Simic continued in her rise with another PB and WL 198 cm. Also to note 195 by second Svetlana Radzivil of Uzbekistan and 192 by Ruth Beitia with Nadiya Dusanova. 2004 Olympic winner Yelena Slesarenko was 9th (185). In the hurdles Brianna Rollins equaled the world lead with 12.58 (0.0) ahead of Kellie Wells 12.89 and Yvette Lewis clocking Panama´s record 12.96. Good throws by Wang Zheng 75.23 in hammer beating Slovak record holder Martina Hrasnova (71.89, World and olympic winner Lysenko 7th 68.72). German World silver medalist Christina Schwanitz equaled her European lead from Halle on Saturday with 20.22 over local star Gong Lijiao 19.61. But there was plenty to cheer for home athletes by the spectators in other events. Hurdler Xie Wenjun won again after Shanghai the hurdles in 13.31 (+0.1) beating World medalist Ryan Wilson 13.37. Xue Changrui cleared 580 in the pole vault, new Chinese record. Another national mark in 800 m by Teng Haining 1:46.32 as fourth, the race was won by South African Andre OIivier 1:44.88. Junior Wang Jianan beat in long jump World indoor medalist Li Jinzhe 800. Russian high jump star Ivan Ukhov managed first four heights in first attempt including 236 (215, 225, 232) and after one failure at 240 stopped. Kenyans as usual dominated in steeple, won by all-time great Paul Kipsiele Koech 8:06:04 over Jairus Birech 8:06.55 and Jonathan Ndiku 8:10.72. Olympic javelin winner Keshorn Walcott won javelin with 83.94, his third best career mark. Second Russian Valeriy Iordan 82.05 with surprise from Shanghai Ihab El Rahman due to knee injury only 10th (74.03). In women sprints Olympic winner Veronica Campbell-Brown gets faster with 11.14 (+0.1) 100 m win over Simone Facey 11.19 who earlier won the 200 m in solid 22.67 (0.0). In fast 1500 m Moroccan Rababe Arafi won in 4:02.71 life-time best ahead of Ethiopian youth runner Gudaf Tsegay 4:02.83 PB and best result for junior and youth category in the world 2014. Also to note third Luiza Gega with Albanian record 4:03.12. Moroccan Salima El Ouali had a similar steeple solo as Coburn in Shanghai, but was catched by Purity Kirui in 9:25.68. Reward for her new PB 9:27.84 as second. US Funmi Jimoh won the long jump (656, 0.0).
