(Jamaica Gleaner) Olympic champion and world record holder Usain Bolt suffered a somewhat expected loss at the hands of American Justin Gatlin in the 100m at the Rome Grand Gala Diamond League a short while ago.
Bolt, who had never lost to Gatlin in any of their previous three meetings, had the best reaction time coming out of the blocks.
However, Bolt showed his race rust; struggling for power beyond the 40m mark, where he was passed by Gatlin, who went on to win in 9.94 – just ahead of Bolt, who dipped at 9.95.
Jimmy Vicaut was third in 10.02.
The Jamaican entered the race with question marks over his condition, after he was forced to skip the Jamaica Invitational on May 4, before posting a pedestrian 10.09 in the Cayman Islands four days later.
It was always going to be difficult going up against Gatlin, who has been busy all season and who has shown excellent form for a 9.91 season best so far.
In the men’s ‘B’ 100m, Jacques Harvey, 10.21, finished behind Jaysuma Saidy Ndure, 10.13 with Kemar Hyman running third in 10.30.
Kerron Stewart had to settle for fourth place in the women’s 200m – another race that threw out a shocker in Rome’s 77-year-old Stadio Olympico.
The usually fast-starting but slow-finishing Murielle Ahoure, attacked the curve and held off a lethargic Allyson Felix; last year’s gold medal winner at the London Olympic Games, to take the event in 22.36 – a national record for the Ivory Coast.
Felix was second in 22.64 with Ivet Lalova taking third place in 22.78.
