Bowie, Merritt, Rollins, Claye Win at Golden Gala

By Scott Bush

Despite the Nike Prefontaine Classic taking place just this past weekend, the Diamond League chugged along and into Europe for the first time this season, as the world’s best track and field athletes congregated at the Golden Gala in Rome. Numerous world leads were set, while the American contingent showed well.

Bowie’s Rapid Rise

Last weekend in Eugene, the most shocking performance of the Pre Classic came from Tori Bowie (USA), who won the women’s 200 meter dash from lane one, against a stacked field, in a new personal best of 22.18. In Rome, Bowie again shocked a stellar sprint lineup with a narrow 11.05-11.08 win over Kerron Stewart (JAM). The 23 year old set another personal best and continues her rapid rise with the potential to start positioning herself as the world’s best sprinter in 2014.

Merritt Back on Top

While losing by less than a hundredth of a second to rival Kirani James (GRE) at the Nike Prefontaine Classic this past Saturday, LaShawn Merritt (USA) bounced back to easily trump the field in Rome, winning in 44.48, over a half second ahead of the runner-up finisher. Merritt got a controlled start and blasted the field over the final 150 meters to show once again why he’s one of the best ever. Plus, he reaped revenge on Luguelin Santos (DOM), who best Merritt at the Jamaica International Invitational earlier this year, the only man to beat the American champion this season prior to Kirani’s performance. Santos finished fifth.

One more positive American note in this race came from David Verburg’s (USA) third place showing. Verburg nearly placed second with his 45.18 effort. The 23 year old continues to show he’s primed and ready to be a force on the world stage over the one lap distance.

Rollins Narrowly Wins

While much of the pre-meet attention focused on the men’s high jump, the women’s 100m hurdles was arguably the second strongest event from top to bottom. Despite Sally Pearson (AUS) scratching just prior to the race, the battle between fellow Americans Brianna Rollins and Dawn Harper Nelson wowed the crowd. Both athletes got off to terrific starts, but it was the young pro Rollins who ultimately scored the win, 12.53-12.54. It doesn’t get much closer than that. 

Rollins’ mark was a world leader, while both took home seasonal bests. For Harper, her sub-12.60 clocking continued her impressive streak since 2008 of dipping under the mark each season. Queen Harrison (USA) completed the American 1-2-3 sweep with a 12.61 seasonal best.

Claye Bests Taylor Again

Christian Taylor (USA) is quickly finding his jumping rhythm after spending the first part of the season focusing on the 400 meter dash. Despite his quick changeover of events, it’s former Florida teammate Will Claye (USA) who’s establishing himself as the best triple jumper in the world. Claye bested Taylor at the Nike Prefontaine Classic this past weekend, then just barely beat Taylor this time around in Rome, taking the head-to-head match-up 17.14m-17.11m. These guys know how to put on a show.

Best of the Rest

The men’s high jump was the must-watch event of the meet and it didn’t let fans down. While Mutaz Essa Barshim (QAT) put on a show, clearing 2.41m and nearly clearing 2.43m, Erik Kynard (USA) finished third overall in 2.31m, besting both Ivan Ukhov (RUS) and long-time rival Derek Drouin (CAN).

Ajee’ Wilson’s (USA) strong 2014 continued on with a third place showing in the women’s 800m. While Eunice Sum (KEN) showed why she’s the best in the world over the two-lap distance with her 1:59.49 win, Wilson also lost to junior athlete Sahily Diago Mesa (CUB). Wilson ran a season best of 2:00.18, but Diago Mesa finished just a little stronger in 2:00.01. These two will have great match-ups hopefully for years to come. Brenda Martinez (USA) finished fifth in a solid 2:00.44.

After a disastrous fall at the Nike Prefontaine Classic only five days ago, Georganne Moline (USA) finished a strong second in the women’s 400m hurdles, running a season best time and second fastest in the world this season. While Kaliese Spencer (JAM) put on a show with her world leading 53.97, Molie showed good improvement and proved she’s on the upswing.

Can anyone stop Justin Gatlin (USA)?  Another meet, another win, another big-time performance under 10 seconds. This time, Gatlin beat the field with a 9.91 performance, only made more impressive by the fact that he won by just over a tenth of a second over Jamaica’s Nesta Carter. A Gatlin v. Blake v. Bolt match-up can’t come soon enough.

Duane Solomon (USA) bounced back from his disappointing last place finish at the Nike Prefontaine Classic last Saturday with a fourth place finish in the men’s 800m. Solomon ran to a 1:44.90 finish, less than a second off of Mohammed Aman’s 1:44.24 winning effort. Erik Sowinski (USA) proved well in the international field, too, with a sixth place 1:45.23 effort.