Diamond League: Aaron Brown finishes 2nd in men's 200m
Toronto runner clocks 20.24 seconds, misses 100 showdown vs. Gatlin
Canada's Aaron Brown narrowly missed his season and personal best time of 20.00 seconds in the 200 metres at Thursday's Golden Gala Diamond League meet in Rome, crossing the line in 20.24 for a second-place finish. He didn't start the 100 later in the day.
Ameer Webb of the United States won in 20.04, while Alonso Edward of Panama was third in 20.25.
20.04 for <a href="https://twitter.com/Fastlikewebb">@Fastlikewebb</a> FTW in the 200m. Canada's Aaron Brown second in 20.24 and Alonso Edward gets 20.25 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RomeDL?src=hash">#RomeDL</a> <a href="https://t.co/3WKGTVpisn">pic.twitter.com/3WKGTVpisn</a>
—@Diamond_LeagueCanada's Gavin Smellie was last of nine runners in 20.88 after not starting the men's 100 B race earlier in the day.
Ten days ago, the Etobicoke, Ont., native finished seventh in a field of eight at the Diamond League Rabat with a 20.97 clocking in the 200. Smellie has a season and personal best time of 20.43.
Gatlin wins 4th straight 100 title
Justin Gatlin prevailed in the 100 metres at Olympic Stadium for a fourth consecutive time and snapped a tie with Maurice Greene for most victories in the event at the meet with six.
Justin Gatlin wins the 100m in 9.93, denying Ameer Webb a sprint double, the latter clocking a big PB of 9.94. CJ Ujah sixth (10.15) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/romedl?src=hash">#romedl</a>
—@AthleticsWeeklyThe 34-year-old Gatlin posted a time of 9.93, a season best by one-hundredth of a second, to beat fellow American Ameer Webb, who ran a personal best 9.94.
At the 2013 Golden Gala, Gatlin's 9.94 was enough to defeat current world record holder Usain Bolt by one-hundredth of a second.
Jimmy Vicaut of France, the reigning European record holder, was third in that race in 10.02 and third again among the eight competitors Thursday, clocking 9.99.
Gatlin's next event is Sunday in a street race in Rio de Janeiro, site of the Summer Olympics in August.
Unfazed by Zika virus
But he's not concerned about the Zika virus, the mosquito-borne virus linked to severe birth defects and possible neurological problems in adults.
Will Gatlin take any precautions?
"At this point in time none that I know of," Gatlin, who will be back at the Olympics as a top medal contender, told reporters. "It's such a mysterious disease, illness, whatever you want to call it. A lot of people don't understand it. You just got to go out there and do what you have to do. If you focus on things, that's outside of your power ... then you're going to be distracted."
Other Canadian results:
- Kimberly Hyancinthe ran 11.54 seconds in the women's 100 B race, finishing third in a field of nine. Italy's Gloria Hooper won in 11.38 followed by Jamile Samuel of the Netherlands, who set a season best at 11.45.
- Melissa Bishop of Eganville, Ont., was seventh in a field of 11 in the women's 800, clocking a season best 1:59.97. The 27-year-old's personal best is 1:57.52. South Africa's Caster Semenya won, matching her world-leading time of 1:56.64, set on May 22 at Diamond League Rabat. World indoor champion Francine Niyonsaba was second (1:58.20) followed by Lynsey Sharp of Great Britain (1:59.03).
- Middle-distance runner Charles Philibert-Thiboutot ran a season-best three minutes 36.07 seconds for an 11th-place finish among 15 in the men's 1,500. It was a 1-2 Kenyan finish, with Elijah Montonei Manangoi (3:33.96) outlasting Robert Biwott (3:34.21).
- Vancouver's Liz Gleadle had a best throw of 56.16 metres in women's javelin, finishing ninth in a field of 12. Sunette Viljoen of South Africa won Thursday's event with a throw of 61.95. Latvia's Madara Palameika (61.92) and Germany's Christin Hussong (61.21) rounded out the top three.
- Converted 1,500 runner Taylor Milne ran a season-best eight minutes 30.04 seconds but finished last among 15 competitors in the men's 3,000 steeplechase. Conseslus Kipruto led a Kenyan sweep of the top three spots, clocking a season-best 8:01.41, followed by Jairus Kipchoge Birech (8:11.39) and Paul Kipsiele Koech (8:14.46).
Diamond League on CBC Sports
CBC Sports will provide live streaming coverage of all 14 Diamond League meets this season at CBCSports.ca and via the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices. TV coverage will be featured as part of the network's Road To The Olympic Games weekend broadcasts throughout the season.
The following is a list of upcoming Diamond League meets on CBCSports.ca and the CBC Sports app:
- Birmingham (June 5, 9 a.m. ET)
- Oslo (June 9, 2 p.m. ET)
- Stockholm (June 16, 2 p.m. ET)
- Monaco (July 15, 2 p.m. ET)
- London (July 22-23, 3 p.m., 10 a.m. ET)
- Lausanne (Aug. 25, 2 p.m. ET)
- Paris (Aug. 27, 2 p.m. ET)
- Zurich (Sept. 1, 2 p.m. ET)
- Brussels (Sept. 9, 2 p.m. ET)
With files from The Associated Press