BY Gary Smith, Track and Field Contributor
Published on Jan. 15 8:27 p.m. CST . No Comments
(Sporting Alert) — American sprinter Justin Gatlin started his season on a winning note over the weekend after he won the men’s 55 metres at Jimmy Carnes College Invitational in Gainesville, Fla. on Saturday.
After clocking 6.32 seconds to win his heat and qualified with the second fastest time heading into the final, Gatlin returned later to win the decider in 6.15secs.
Finishing second to the 2004 Olympic 100m champion was Jamaica’s Kawayne Fisher, who ran 6.23, while Chris Hargrett (6.31) out-leaned former Union College NAIA champion Johnnie Nabors (6.32) for third place.
Gatlin, the 2003 World Indoor 60m champion, will face former world record holder over 100m Asafa Powell of Jamaica, along with his training partner Nesta Carter in the 55m at the US Open track and field competition on January 28 at Madison Square Garden.
Jamaica’s Aleen Bailey won the women’s race in 6.79 seconds, beating Nickesha Williams (6.86) and Courtney Patterson (6.96).
Elsewhere, David Oliver dominated the men’s 55m hurdles in 7.14secs, while Kellie Wells won the women’s race in 7.47.
Men’s 55m Finals
1 Gatlin, Justin 29 Unattached 6.15 2 Fisher, Kawayne 26 Central Flor 6.23 3 Hargrett, Chris 27 Unat-Bos Eli 6.31 4 Nabors, Johnnie 25 Sprint Athle 6.32 5 Green II, Rodney 28 star athleti 6.36 6 Cabrera, Angelo 20 Bethune-Cook 6.37 7 McClary, Jeff 19 Embry-Riddle 6.48 8 Jackson, Christopher 22 Bethune-Cook 6.50