ROME, Italy (Sporting Alert) — Justin Gatlin handed Usain Bolt a defeat in the men’s 100m dash at the IAAF Diamond League Meeting in Rome, Italy on Thursday.
The American won in 9.94 seconds with the Jamaican Bolt, struggling over the last 30 metres taking second in 9.95.
Reigning World 400m champion Amantle Montsho was also in good winning form after improving her world-leading mark to 49.87secs to take the women’s one lap event.
The Botswana 2011 world champion came under pressure at the top of the home straight, but managed to pull away from American Francena McCorory, who clocked a personal best of 50.05 for second, with fellow teammate Natasha Hastings taking third in 50.53.
Montsho remains undefeated in Diamond League and moved to 12 points in her event.
Murielle Ahoure of the Ivory Coast upset Olympic champion Allyson Felix of USA in the women’s 200m.
Ahoure, who has been running very well thus far this season, rushed off the bend and then kept pulling away from Felix, to take the win in 22.36 seconds. Her time of also a national record, improving her own previous mark of 22.42.
Felix was second in 22.64, with Bulgaria’s Ivet Lalova taking third in 22.78.
Elsewhere, USA’s Dawn Harper held off Lolo Jones to win the women’s 100m hurdles in 12.65. Jones was second in a seasonal best time of 12.70.
Johnny Dutch of USA took the men’s 400m hurdles in 48.31, edging Puerto Rico’s Javier Culson, who clocked a seasonal best equalling time of 48.36. Mamadou Kasse Hanne of Senegal was third in a personal best of 48.56.
Ethiopian Mohammed Aman, in the absence of world record holder David Rudisha, dominated the men’s 800m after kicking at the last 200m to set a new world lead of 1:43.61.
Olympic champion Brittney Reese of USA won the women’s Long Jump with 6.99m, just out jumping another Janay DeLoach Soukup, who did 6.97m. Both marks came in the fifth round.
Croatian world-leader Sandra Perković dominated the women’s Discus Throw with an effort of 68.25m, with the second place finisher, Yarelis Barrios of Cuba closest at 64.41m.
