Veteran American sprinter Justin Gatlin fended off the challenge of a host of Japanese hopes when he won the men's 100 metres in 10.28 seconds at the Golden Grand Prix here on Sunday.
The Rio Olympic silver medallist started slowly but rallied to dip ahead of Asuka Cambridge, who finished .03 seconds behind the American, while another Japanese, Shuhei Tada, came third in 10.35.
Any hopes of clocking a fast time were scuppered by a 1.2-metre headwind at the Todoroki Stadium, although Gatlin said he was pleased with his performance in testing conditions.
“It was a tough wind, but the competition was even tougher going against some of the future stars of Japan,” the 35-year-old was quoted as saying by Kyodo.
“They put together a good race, and they're going to be formidable opponents. I've been a little bit injured, not being able to train as hard as I want to, but I've been working on my finish and it helped out today.”
Canada's Aaron Brown won the men's 200m in 20.62, while Bulgaria's Ivet Lalova-Collio claimed the women's 100 and 200m.
The winners:
Men: 100m: Justin Gatlin (USA) 10.28. 200m: Aaron Brown (Can) 20.62. 800m: Timothy Kitum (Ken) 1:47.03. 3000m: Paul Kipngetich Tanui (Ken) 7:52.67. 3000m steeplechase: Jairus Kipchoge Birech (Ken) 8:19.54. 110m hurdles: Xie Wenjun (Chn) 13.51.
400m hurdles: Quincy Downing (USA) 48.96. High jump: Michael Mason (Can) 2.30. Pole vault: Hiroki Ogita (Jpn) 5.60. Long jump: Wang Jianan (Chn) 8.14. Triple jump: Wu Ruiting (Chn) 17.18. Javelin: Thomas Roehler (Ger) 86.55.
Women: 100m: Ivet Lalova-Collio (Bul) 11.40. 200m: Ivet Lalova-Collio (Bul) 22.98. 1500m: Nelly Jepkosgei (Ken) 4:06.86. 100m hurdles: Queen Harrison (USA) 12.65.
Long jump: Tianna Bartoletta (USA) 6.79. Shot Put: Jeneva Stevens (USA) 18.48.
Hammer: Gwen Berry (USA) 74.13. Javelin: Liu Shiying (Chn) 66.47.
