World Athletics 2019 - Christian Coleman storms into 100 metres final
ByReuters
Updated 28/09/2019 at 16:43 GMT
American Christian Coleman powered towards a world championship gold medal by posting a sizzling time of 9.88 seconds in the 100 metre semi-finals on Saturday while defending champion Justin Gatlin squeaked into the final.
DOHA, QATAR - SEPTEMBER 27: Christian Coleman of the United States reacts prior to the Men's 100 metres heats during day one of 17th IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 at Khalifa International Stadium on September 27, 2019 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo
Image credit: Getty Images
A relaxed Coleman, who also posted the fastest time in the opening round, looked imperious as he eased up 10 metres from the finish then coasted across the line for a comfortable win.
The time was just off of Coleman's season best of 9.81 ran in June and confirmed his status as the gold medal favourite heading into the final later on Saturday.
It was not such smooth sailing for the 37-year-old Gatlin.
With the top two from each of three semi-finals advancing directly, Gatlin needed one of the two fastest remaining times to book his spot.
Canadian Andre De Grasse, a triple Olympic medallist at the 2016 Rio Games returning to form after a string of injuries, won the heat in 10.07 ahead of Jamaican 2011 world champion Yohan Blake, leaving third-place finisher Gatlin waiting to see if his 10.09 would see him through.
Gatlin's spot was confirmed after South Africa's Akani Simbine took the final heat in 10.01 ahead of Britain's Zharnel Hughes with the remainder of the field unable to better the American's time.
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