Gatlin powers past Gay, Powell

Lausanne - American shoots Bolt a warning; Farah answers critics with 5,000m win

Justin Gatlin easily beat two big-name rivals by clocking 9.75 seconds in the 100 metres at the Athletissima Diamond League meet on Thursday.
The in-form Gatlin left runner-up Asafa Powell of Jamaica trailing in 9.92, the same time as his fellow American Tyson Gay in third. The time was 0.01 outside Gatlin's world-leading season-best and the 2004 Olympic champion remained unbeaten over 100 since 2013.
Gatlin is increasingly looking like the man to beat at the world championships in Beijing next month as title holder Usain Bolt struggles with a leg injury. "It's not a message to anybody," Gatlin said of his dominating performance. "Usain is a great opponent, so it's on me to go out and give him the best challenge I can. Hopefully he will be healthy and ready to go for the world championships." Though Gay and Powell were faster out of the blocks on a breezy night, Gatlin drew ahead within 30 metres and quickly went clear.
The show impressed Gay, who took the 2007 world title after Gatlin began serving a four-year ban for doping. "The guy has improved. He's polished, he's sharp," Gay said of his US relay teammate. "He has a lot of confidence and he's on a roll right now." Powell, the former world record-holder, lacked his typical fast start running in the lane to Gatlin's left.
"I didn't run like I should. The first part of my race was not all that great," said Powell, whose 9.81 time at Paris last weekend puts him second in the season rankings.
Also Thursday, Olympic champion Mo Farah of Britain won the 5,000 in his first race since his American coach Alberto Salazar faced doping allegations last month. Farah's readiness was seriously tested when he was passed with 250 metres left by Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia, who ran a world-leading time in Rome last month.
Fighting back in the home stretch, Farah went clear then waved his arms urging the crowd to cheer, and struck his chest twice with his right hand and punched the air wildly as he crossed in 13:11.77. "This victory is also a way to answer some of the critics regarding my coach that came out lately," said Farah, who was not implicated in the allegations that Salazar has denied.
Farah was among five 2012 London Olympic gold medalists who won on Thursday, with two showing great form. Anna Chicherova of Russia cleared a world-leading 2.03 metres in the high jump. Her third attempt at the height was nine centimetres better than her previous best jump in 2015.
In the men's javelin, Keshorn Walcott set a Trinidad and Tobago record of 90.16 metres, one of four Athletissima records set in the meeting's 40th edition. Olympic champion Allyson Felix of the US won the women's 200 in 22.09, though Shaunae Miller of Bahamas had the most impressive sprint performance.

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Victory for Royals over Tampa Bay in American League

8-3

The guy has improved. He's polished, he's sharp
- tysoN Gay

results
> 1. Mark Cavendish (Britain / Etixx - Quick-Step) 4:27:25" 2. Andre Greipel (Germany / Lotto) ST 3. Peter Sagan (Slovakia / Tinkoff - Saxo) 4. John Degenkolb (Germany / Giant) 5. Alexander Kristoff (Norway / Katusha) 6. Arnaud Demare (France / FDJ) 7. Tyler Farrar (U.S. / Team MTN) 8. Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (South Africa / Team MTN) 9. Davide Cimolai (Italy / Lampre) 10. Sam Bennett (Ireland / BORA)
Classification
> 1. Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky) 26:40:51" 2. Peter Sagan (Slovakia / Tinkoff - Saxo) +11" 3. Tejay van Garderen (U.S. / BMC Racing) +13" 4. Tony Gallopin (France / Lotto) +26" 5. Greg Van Avermaet (Belgium / BMC Racing) +28" 6. Rigoberto Uran (Colombia / Etixx - Quick-Step) +34" 7. Alberto Contador (Spain / Tinkoff - Saxo) +36" 8. Zdenek Stybar (Czech Republic / Etixx - Quick-Step) +52" 9. Geraint Thomas (Britain / Team Sky) +1:03" 10. Warren Barguil (France / Giant) +1:07" 11. Bauke Mollema (Netherlands / Trek) +1:32" 12. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Astana) +1:38" 13. Robert Gesink (Netherlands / LottoNL) +1:39" 14. Roman Kreuziger (Czech Republic / Tinkoff - Saxo) +1:51" 15. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar)