(Video) Norman clocks 19.84 to win 200M in Osaka Golden Grand Prix

Young US sprinter Michael Norman started his 200m season from where he left off last year as he equaled his personal best, 19.84 seconds to win at the Seiko Golden Grand Prix, an IAAF World Challenge meeting held at Osaka yesterday.

The 21-year-old wonder kid clocked 43.45 seconds in the 400m earlier this year, which was the fourth fastest time in the event’s history, and is reckoned as next best to Noah Lyles among those who have clocked sub-20 seconds in the 200m.

Coming off the bend Norman was the clear cut leader, with none of the other athletes able to run a sub-20 seconds race that would offer Norman the stiff competition needed for him to push for a better time in the final stretch, where he ran against a headwind of -0.4 m/s.

 

 

Japan passes the baton test

The Japanese 4x100m relay quartet, who had a disappointing outing in the World Relays in Yokohama a week ago due to a disastrous baton change, got it right in Osaka to beat their US rivals in 38.01 seconds, a world lead time that bettered that of the World Relays’ gold medal winner South Africa, who clocked 38.05 seconds.

However, only the defending world champion Justin Gatlin was present from the USA’s 4x100m World Relay team; he was joined in Osaka by Christopher Belcher, Kendal Williams and Cameron Burrell. For Japan, it was the same team.

Gatlin still has it

The 100m field was filled with star Japanese sprinters, sub-10 runner Yoshihide Kiryu and Asian Champion Yaota Yamagota, but it was the 37-year-old defending World Champion Justin Gatlin who took the 100m honors, winning in a tape finish in 10.00 seconds. Kiryu gave him stiff competition, clocking 10.01 seconds and leading at the 60m mark, but the veteran came back to win it on the line.

Indonesia’s World Junior Champion Lalu Muhammad Zohri shaved more than 0.10 seconds from his previous personal best to clock a new personal best and national record of 10.03 seconds, while another Japanese sprinter Yuki Koike also clocked a personal best 10.04 seconds.

In the 400m, Japanese Champion Julian Walsh could not return to his usual best and was beaten by the USA’s Vernon Norwood in 45.79 seconds.

Pearson Beaten

The 100m hurdles provided a thrilling competition as the former Olympic Champion and defending World Champion Sally Pearson was beaten by Sharkia Sharika Nelvis of the US in a tape finish. Both athletes clocked 12.70 seconds, the winner being decided in a photo-finish.

In the Women’s 100m, Asian Champion Olga Safronova who clocked 11.17 seconds last month couldn’t come close to that as she was beaten by Mikiah Brisco of the USA who clocked 11.33 seconds in a -2.2 m/s headwind. Bulgaria’s Ivet Lalova-Collio won the 200m with a time of 22.55 seconds, beating Kyra Jefferson of the USA, while Olga came in third.

The golden Grand Prix was part of the IAAF World Challenge series, which consists of a series of one-day athletic meets. The next meet will be in Nanjing, China tomorrow.

Results

Men

100m: 1. Justin Gatlin 10.00 sec, 2. Yoshihide Kiryu 10.01 sec, 3. Lalu Muhammad Zohri 10.03 sec

200m: 1. Michael Norman 19.84 sec, 2. Chun- Han Yang 20.50 sec, 3. Christopher Belcher 20.57 sec

400m: 1. Vernon Norwood 45.79 sec, 2. Julian Walsh 46.29 sec, 3. Mitsuko Kawachi 46.49 sec

800m: 1. Jonathan Kitilit 1:46.37 sec, 2. Guy Learmonth 1:46.81 sec, 3. Alfred Kipketer 1:46.88

3000m St.Ch.: 1. Philemon Ruto 8:22.76 sec, 2. Getnet Wale 8:23.01 sec, 3. Abraham Kibiwot 8:28.27 sec

110m Hurdles: 1. Shusuke Izumiya 13.26 sec, 2. Greeggmar Swift 13.45 sec, 3. Taio Kanai 13.47 sec

400m Hurdles: 1. Masaki Toyoda 50.38 sec , 3. Keisuke Nozawa 50.65 sec, 3. Mahau Suguimati 50.87

Long Jump: 1. Natsuko Yamakawa 7.87m, 2. Hibiki Tsusha 7.81m , 3. Yuko Hashoika 7.80m

Triple Jump: 1. Omar Craddock 17.16m 2. Yaming Zhu 16.51m, 3. Nazim Bbayey 16.48m

Javelin Throw: 1. Edis Matusevicius 84.55m, 2. Shih-Feng Huang 79.5m, 3. Ryohei Arai 78.34m

Women

100m: 1. Mikiah Brisco 11.33 sec, 2. Olga Safronova 11.39 sec, 3. Dezerea Bryant 11.44 sec

200m: 1. Ivet Lalova Collio 22.55 sec, 2. Kyra Jefferson 23.00 sec, 3. Olga Safronova 23.08 sec

800m: 1. Noelie Yarigo 2:03.18 sec, 3. Emily Tuei 2:03.80 sec, 3. Angela Petty 2:03.81 sec

3000m St. Ch.: 1. Yakari Ishizawa 10:12.12 sec, 2. Ayaka Koike 1:32.27 sec, 3. Manami Nishiyama 10:28.67 sec

100m Hurdles: 1. Sharika Nelvis 12.70 sec, 2. Sally Pearson 12.70 sec, 3. Pedrya Seymour 12.90 sec

400m Hurdles: 1. Dalilah Muhammad 53.88 sec, 3. Ti–Adna Belle 55.42 sec, 3. Cassandra Tate 55.45 sec

Long Jump: 1. Brooke Startation 6.66m, 2. Ala Rotaru 6.47m 3. Sumire Hata 6.41m

Hammer Throw: 1. Zheng Wang 75.27m, 2. Gwen Berry 74.09m, 3. Deenna Prince 72.92m

Javelin Throw: 1. Yuzhen Yu 60.88, 2. Haruka Kithagaahu 60.00 sec, Liveta Jasiunaite 59.74 sec