American Lashawn Merritt and Grenada’s Kirani James, fierce rivals over the 400 metres, produced world-leading times in different disciplines at the Chris Brown Invitational in the Bahamas on Saturday whetting the appetite of fans of track and field with what could be in store for the Olympics in Rio Brazil this summer.Merritt unleashed a jaw-dropping 19.78-second run to win the 200 metres well clear of fellow Americans Wallace Spearmon, who crossed the line in 20.40 seconds and Mike Rodgers 20.42.
The time was also a personal best for Merritt who will be hoping to come away from Rio with a gold medal in his preferred event.
So too, is James, who responded to Merritt’s world-leading run with a world-leading mark of his own; 44.36s in the 400 metres to win ahead of Americans Tony McQuay 45.34s and Jeremy Wariner 45.55s.
The performances were among several world leads that came at the meet that featured some of the sport’s biggest stars.
American Johnny Dutch, for example, ran an impressive 48.36s to win the 400 metre hurdles ahead of Puerto Rico’s Javier Culson 49.12s and Jeffrey Gibson of the Bahamas 49.16.
Justin Gatlin then produced a world-leading 9.90s to win the100 metres, and eclipse Yohan Blake’s 9.95s set earlier on Saturday. Femi Ogundoe of Qatar was second in 9.94, while Adrian Griffith of Trinidad and Tobago was third in 10.03s.
The women were not to be outdone as American Tori Bowie produced a world-leading 22.36s to win the 200-metre sprint ahead of fellow Americans Natasha Hastings 22.54s and Joanna Atkins 22.68s. But it wasn’t the just Americans who shone.
Hometown girls Shaune Miller, celebrated her return home and the fact that she is engaged to be married, with an outstanding run in the 400 metres to win in a world-leading 49.69s. Quanera Hayes of the USA was second in 49.91s while Ashley Spencer also of the USA was third in 51.35s.(Sportsmax.com)