Olympics 2012: Justin Gatlin & Allyson Felix Get Edge Over Jamaican Rivals
Justin Gatlin and Allyson Felix recorded dramatic 100m wins at this season’s inaugural Diamond League meet.
Justin Gatlin and Allyson Felix recorded dramatic 100m wins at this seasons inaugural Diamond League meet. Gatlin, 100m Gold Medalist in Athens, defeated Jamaicas Asafa Powell by one hundredth of a second clocking in at 9.87 seconds. Powell, a member of Jamaicas 4x100m relay winning team in Beijing, did not look happy. Another member of that team, Nesta Carter, finished down in 5th. However their compatriot Usain Bolt, the reigning Olympic champion, was not there. Bolt will be the favourite in London, but last night Gatlin sent him a warning. Speaking after the race he said I want everyone to know, Justin Gatlin is back.". Gatlins fellow American, Allyson Felix, claimed an equally impressive win in the womens 100m. Recording a personal best of 10.92 seconds, she defeated Jamaicas Veronica Campbell-Brown, a triple Olympic Gold Medalist, by two hundredths of a second. The current Olympic Champion, Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce, finished third. Felix has won in Doha twice before, but this was her biggest 100m win considering the competition. She will be more focused on the 200m in London, but last might get her thinking about the 100m more seriously. Speaking about her chances, she said Gold is always a possibility. Another American sprinter, Walter Dix, won the 200m contest. Again, the Olympic title is held by Bolt who might have taken note. These successes will give team USA a big boost, but it would be unwise to write off the Jamaicans. Nonetheless, last night was a definite early warning.