Justin Gatlin nipped Jamaica's Asafa Powell at the line to win the 100 meters in a time of 9.87 seconds at the season-opening Diamond League meet here Friday. It was the start of a good night for the Americans, with Allyson Felix winning the women's 100 from Jamaican rival Veronic Campbell-Brown and Walter Dix setting a meet record in the 200. Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt, coming off a 21-month doping suspension, set a world-leading time this season in easily winning the 400. Powell got off to the faster start but Gatlin pulled even and then managed to get his head in front as they crossed the line. Gatlin tied Powell's world record in Doha six years ago only to see the result erased when he was caught doping a few weeks later. Gatlin had tested positive for excessive levels of testosterone, which led to a four-year ban. Gatlin and Powell are both gearing up for the London Olympics. Olympic champion Usain Bolt skipped the meet, as did Tyson Gay of the United States who is recovering from injury. “This is fastest I ever opened up my career,” said Gatlin as he dedicated the win to his son Jace, who turned two on Friday. “I just showed I have a lot of grit and a lot of competition in these old legs,” he said. “I want to come back and show the world I can run to the line with the best of them.” Powell, who has lost to Gatlin seven times in 10 meetings, said he wouldn't let it happen the next time. “I cannot complain about my time — 9.88 is a good time,” he said. “I am still feeling the jet lag so I cannot say I was 100 percent ready ... I will surely go for gold at the Olympics.” Felix, who is considering running the 200 and 400 meters at the London Games, showed she is starting the season in shape. She won the 100 with a meet record of 10.92, edging her Jamaican rival and reigning world 200 champion Veronica Campbell-Brown by .02 seconds. Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was third, a further .06 back. “I know my speed was coming on and I was just focused on putting it together technically so it was pretty cool to come in here and win,” said Felix, who has won more races than any athlete in Doha. Campbell-Brown, who had beaten Felix in all five of their previous 100 races, said she “could improve” and would “keep working until the Olympics.” In the longer distances, Kenya runners beat their rivals from Ethiopia like they did at the world championships with several setting world-leading marks this season ahead of the London Olympics. World champion David Rudisha led a Kenyan 1-2 in the 800 by running 1:43.10, .33 ahead of Job Kinyor. The field didn't include main rival Mohammed Aman of Ethiopia. “I'm happy,” Rudisha said. “I was telling my manager that I might run something like 1:43 and a half. I'm happy today to run 1:43.10. It's a good start. This is an important season because it's an Olympic year; we are looking forward to doing good preparations for the Olympics.” Olympic champion Pamela Jelimo also showed her world indoor title in March was no fluke, winning the women's 800 in 1:56.94. Fellow Kenyan and main rival Janeth Jepkosgei finished third. Silas Kiplagat led a Kenya 1-2-3 in the 1,500 by timing 3:29.63. Two-time world champion Vivian Jepkemoi held off Meseret Defar of Ethiopia to win the 3,000 in 8:46.44. It is only the second time Jepkemoi has beaten Defar, who has set 13 world records and won 16 global titles. In the final race, Augustine Chogeled a Kenyan 1-2 in the 10,000 but Ethiopian great Kenenisa Bekele finished 10 seconds behind in seventh place. “I missed one week training a little bit my Achilles was not good,” Bekele said. “Because of that, I took two or three days rest ... So sorry.”
