BEFORE THE MEN’S dash final, one would have figured the battle would be between Americans Fred Kerley and Christian Coleman, two of the most consistent men on the circuit. The cold weather might have played a role in upending the formchart, because the only sprinter who burned a sub-10 was the guy who has never come close to winning a Diamond League race before.
Coleman failed to get his usual start out of lane 6. Instead, he matched speed with South Africa’s Akani Simbine in 5 and Kerley in 4. Meanwhile in 3, Ackeem Blake, who had failed to make the Paris final, got out well: by 10m he was one of those sharing the lead, and by 20 he was gone.
No one had the wheels to match the 22-year-old Jamaican as he found his stride and streaked to his $30,000 prize unchallenged in 9.92 (wind 0.1). Coleman, ahead of Kerley for most of the distance, managed to hang on in 10.00, with the Olympic bronze medalist 3rd in 10.01. There was a crush at the line for 4th, Cameroonian Emmanuel Eseme (10.09) edging Simbine and Japan’s Abdul Hakim Sani Brown, both in 10.10.
“It was a surprise to win here today,” said Blake. “I’ve been working very hard this season and I kept motivated. That´s why I am so strong at the end of this season. I know what I am capable of and I know that this is only the beginning.”
Said Coleman, “It would have been better to take the win but I am satisfied.”
Results (+0.1)
1. Ackeem Blake (Jam) 9.93; 2. Christian Coleman (US) 10.00; 3. Fred Kerley (US) 10.01; 4. Emmanuel Eseme (Cmr) 10.09; 5. Akani Simbine (SA) 10.10; 6. Abdul Hakim Sani Brown (Jpn) 10.10; 7. Brandon Hicklin (US) 10.13; 8. Rohan Watson (Jam) 10.25.
