Gatlin wins 100 metre, DeGrasse finishes 8th at Prefontaine Classic

Republished May 28, 2016 - 4:57 PM

Original Publication Date May 28, 2016 - 4:20 PM

EUGENE, Ore. - Canadian sprinter Andre DeGrasse finished eighth in the 100 metres Saturday in the Diamond League's Prefontaine Classic.

The Markham, Ont., native clocked in at 10.05 seconds.

American Justin Gatlin won the event in 9.88 seconds at Hayward Field. Jamaica's Asafa Powell was second in 9.94, and American Tyson Gay third in 9.98.

Canadian Shawn Barber placed second in the pole vault behind Renaud Lavillenie of France and Hamilton's Mo Ahmed was third in the men's 5,000, in a Canadian record 13 minutes 01.74 seconds. Muktar Edris finished first in that event.

Gatlin, 34, will return to Hayward in early July for the U.S. Olympic Trials, with hopes of qualifying for the American team that will compete in Rio de Janeiro.

"I've got to run smarter," Gatlin said. "I've got to make sure that I put the right races out there, be precise each race. So, by the time I get to the Olympics, hopefully run in the finals, I'll be able to do what I can do and hopefully bring home a gold to America."

The 2004 Olympic champion in the 100, Gatlin won at the meet for the sixth time. Trying to stay focused on his race and his lane, he had a solid start and didn't give up the lead after taking it early on.

Gatlin joked after his race that he was upstaged by Kendra Harrison after she set the American record in the women's 100 hurdles in 12.24 — the second-fastest time ever.

"She stole my thunder, man, rightfully so," Gatlin said. "American record on a one-ff race, here at Prefontaine. It's an amazing feat, especially with the women's hurdles. It's a grab bag. You don't even know who's gonna win. Watching her do that today? That's amazing."

It was a meet filled with records on the women's side.

Bahrain's Ruth Jebet set Hayward, meet and Asian records in the 3,000 steeplechase in 8:59.97, edging Kenya's Hyvin Kiyeng (9:00.01), who broke the African record.

Montreal native Genevieve Lalonde was ninth in women's 3,000 steeplechase in a Canadian record of 9:32.17.

Jebet ran the second-fastest time ever, missing the world record by 1.16 seconds. Emma Coburn set an American record, taking third in 9:10.76.

Kenya's Faith Chepnget Kipyegon won the 1,500 in 3:56.41, the fastest time ever in the United States.

— With files from The Associated Press