Class 6
05-15-2006, 03:57 PM
TRACK AND FIELD
Justin time: Gatlin fastest
Just as he predicted, American Justin Gatlin claimed the world record in the 100 meters, winning in 9.76 to nip Asafa Powell's mark by one-hundreth of a second.
BY SARAH ROTHSCHILD
srothschild@MiamiHerald.com
Justin Gatlin had no qualms about boldly revealing earlier this week that he intended to add world-record holder to his sparkling résumé, which also includes Olympic gold medalist and world champion.
His agent, Renaldo Nehemiah, even had pleaded with Gatlin to tone it down.
But Friday, Gatlin let his legs do the talking by breaking the world 100-meter record in 9.76 seconds in Doha at the Qatar Super Grand Prix. The 24-year-old eclipsed the mark set by Jamaica's Asafa Powell -- 9.77 in Athens, Greece, on June 14, 2005 -- and now holds the coveted title of fastest man in the world.
''I think a lot of people were saying it prematurely. I felt a little uneasy,'' Gatlin said during a Friday afternoon teleconference before flying back to the United States. ``I had won the Olympics and the world championship, but now I can say I'm the fastest man in the world, and it feels great.''
Gatlin, who said he felt numb about the record, didn't rank it as his No. 1 feat, conceding, ``I still have to go with my baby, the [2004] Olympics, because it gave me so much confidence that I could be the best in track and field.''
Gatlin won in Qatar on his third try, after being trumped in 2004 by American Shawn Crawford, a 200-meter Olympic gold medalist, and last year by Olympic runner-up Francis Obikwelu of Portugal.
Halfway through Friday's race, Gatlin and American Terrence Trammell were neck-and-neck, until Gatlin pulled away in the final 40 meters. Nigerian Olusoji Fasuba finished second in 9.84 and Crawford third in 10.08.
REASON TO CELEBRATE
Afterward, Gatlin bounded toward the stands and received a standing ovation from about 10,000 fans. He tried to hug everyone in sight, from American students who live in Qatar, which borders the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia, and members of the U.S. team, including women's 200-meter world champion Allyson Felix.
''She gave me the biggest hug,'' Gatlin said. ``It felt like we did it, my team did it. It's not me that's just the fastest man in the world, it's everyone.''
Although this is not an Olympics or World Championship year, Gatlin has been hungry to enter the record books. In his first race of the season May 6 in Osaka, Japan, Gatlin ran a 9.95 and knew he'd have to shave time from that to top his personal best of 9.85 from the Athens Games.
Gatlin, who won the 100 and 200 meters last August in the World Championships in Helsinki, Finland, watched tapes of Maurice Greene and Michael Johnson and thought, ``I'm going to get it.''
Even on his record day, Gatlin felt overwhelmed.
''I'm in more disbelief now than I was with the Olympics or World Championship,'' said Gatlin, who said his cellphone rang incessantly after his victory. ``I can't believe it came so soon. It was my goal, I was focused on it, but I didn't think it would come [in] the second race of the season.''
A HANDSOME BONUS
Gatlin collected a $100,000 bonus from the International Association of Athletics Federations for setting the record, and the Qatar federation said it would add $30,000.
The Brooklyn, N.Y., native headed from Qatar to Indianapolis to promote the 2006 AT&T USA Outdoor Championships, which will be held beginning June 21. He also has an upcoming faceoff June 11 with rival Powell in Gateshead in northern England.
Elated about his world record, Gatlin still felt he has room to improve, pointing out a blemish in his performance.
''If you watch the race you'll see I wasn't one of the first to come off the blocks,'' he said. ``I think I can run faster than that. It wasn't one of my best races I can put down in my book.''
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
:points:
Justin time: Gatlin fastest
Just as he predicted, American Justin Gatlin claimed the world record in the 100 meters, winning in 9.76 to nip Asafa Powell's mark by one-hundreth of a second.
BY SARAH ROTHSCHILD
srothschild@MiamiHerald.com
Justin Gatlin had no qualms about boldly revealing earlier this week that he intended to add world-record holder to his sparkling résumé, which also includes Olympic gold medalist and world champion.
His agent, Renaldo Nehemiah, even had pleaded with Gatlin to tone it down.
But Friday, Gatlin let his legs do the talking by breaking the world 100-meter record in 9.76 seconds in Doha at the Qatar Super Grand Prix. The 24-year-old eclipsed the mark set by Jamaica's Asafa Powell -- 9.77 in Athens, Greece, on June 14, 2005 -- and now holds the coveted title of fastest man in the world.
''I think a lot of people were saying it prematurely. I felt a little uneasy,'' Gatlin said during a Friday afternoon teleconference before flying back to the United States. ``I had won the Olympics and the world championship, but now I can say I'm the fastest man in the world, and it feels great.''
Gatlin, who said he felt numb about the record, didn't rank it as his No. 1 feat, conceding, ``I still have to go with my baby, the [2004] Olympics, because it gave me so much confidence that I could be the best in track and field.''
Gatlin won in Qatar on his third try, after being trumped in 2004 by American Shawn Crawford, a 200-meter Olympic gold medalist, and last year by Olympic runner-up Francis Obikwelu of Portugal.
Halfway through Friday's race, Gatlin and American Terrence Trammell were neck-and-neck, until Gatlin pulled away in the final 40 meters. Nigerian Olusoji Fasuba finished second in 9.84 and Crawford third in 10.08.
REASON TO CELEBRATE
Afterward, Gatlin bounded toward the stands and received a standing ovation from about 10,000 fans. He tried to hug everyone in sight, from American students who live in Qatar, which borders the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia, and members of the U.S. team, including women's 200-meter world champion Allyson Felix.
''She gave me the biggest hug,'' Gatlin said. ``It felt like we did it, my team did it. It's not me that's just the fastest man in the world, it's everyone.''
Although this is not an Olympics or World Championship year, Gatlin has been hungry to enter the record books. In his first race of the season May 6 in Osaka, Japan, Gatlin ran a 9.95 and knew he'd have to shave time from that to top his personal best of 9.85 from the Athens Games.
Gatlin, who won the 100 and 200 meters last August in the World Championships in Helsinki, Finland, watched tapes of Maurice Greene and Michael Johnson and thought, ``I'm going to get it.''
Even on his record day, Gatlin felt overwhelmed.
''I'm in more disbelief now than I was with the Olympics or World Championship,'' said Gatlin, who said his cellphone rang incessantly after his victory. ``I can't believe it came so soon. It was my goal, I was focused on it, but I didn't think it would come [in] the second race of the season.''
A HANDSOME BONUS
Gatlin collected a $100,000 bonus from the International Association of Athletics Federations for setting the record, and the Qatar federation said it would add $30,000.
The Brooklyn, N.Y., native headed from Qatar to Indianapolis to promote the 2006 AT&T USA Outdoor Championships, which will be held beginning June 21. He also has an upcoming faceoff June 11 with rival Powell in Gateshead in northern England.
Elated about his world record, Gatlin still felt he has room to improve, pointing out a blemish in his performance.
''If you watch the race you'll see I wasn't one of the first to come off the blocks,'' he said. ``I think I can run faster than that. It wasn't one of my best races I can put down in my book.''
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
:points: