08/05/2016
Gatlin, Bartoletta, Barber impress fans at SEIKO Golden Grand Prix
On Sunday 8 May 2016, 23,000 Athletics fans in the stadium and much more on live national broadcast enjoyed the performances of top world class and top Japanese athletes at the 3rd Round of the IAAF World Challenge Series, the SEIKO Golden Grand Prix 2016 Kawasaki held at the Todoroki Athletics Stadium in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan.
Weather condition good for this time of the year with a temperature of 27C with a 43% humidity with some wind at times from the east northeast direction.
In the men's 100m, a race originally drawing attention from the Japanese media for Yoshihide Kiryu and Abdul Hakim Sani-Brown's first-ever duel, it was Justin Gatlin who won the race (10.02) as well as the hearts of fans in Kawasaki. After showing his dominance in the race, Gatlin took a victory lap around the stadium and as the fans cheer him on, he even took selfies with fans in front row.
Tianna Bartoletta, the Long Jump World Champion, doubled in the Long Jump and the 100m taking home the top prize in both events. Pole Vault sensation Shawnacy Barber struggled with the wind but managed to vault 5.62m to clinch the event with least attempts out of the three who cleared the same height, two others being Daichi Sawano and Seito Yamamoto. T44 100m Pan American champion and previous world record holder Jarryd Wallace ran a 10.97 to renew his meet record.
The home favorite notables were Keisuke Nozawa and Ryohei Arai clearing the Japanese Olympic National Team Standards in the Men's 400mH and the Men's Javelin Throw respectively. National Team standards are set higher than the entry standards. Yuki Matsushita (M 400mH), Satomi Kubokura (W 400mH), and Yuki Ebihara (W JT) showing quality performances, hitting the Entry Standards. Fans also witnessed new U20 Japanese records from Satomi Kubokura and Haruka Kitaguchi (W JT) and a new Japanese High School from Masaki Ejima in the pole vault.
The entire results of the SEIKO Golden Grand Prix can be found at the event website, http://goldengrandprix-japan.com/en-us/ .
Weather condition good for this time of the year with a temperature of 27C with a 43% humidity with some wind at times from the east northeast direction.
In the men's 100m, a race originally drawing attention from the Japanese media for Yoshihide Kiryu and Abdul Hakim Sani-Brown's first-ever duel, it was Justin Gatlin who won the race (10.02) as well as the hearts of fans in Kawasaki. After showing his dominance in the race, Gatlin took a victory lap around the stadium and as the fans cheer him on, he even took selfies with fans in front row.
Tianna Bartoletta, the Long Jump World Champion, doubled in the Long Jump and the 100m taking home the top prize in both events. Pole Vault sensation Shawnacy Barber struggled with the wind but managed to vault 5.62m to clinch the event with least attempts out of the three who cleared the same height, two others being Daichi Sawano and Seito Yamamoto. T44 100m Pan American champion and previous world record holder Jarryd Wallace ran a 10.97 to renew his meet record.
The home favorite notables were Keisuke Nozawa and Ryohei Arai clearing the Japanese Olympic National Team Standards in the Men's 400mH and the Men's Javelin Throw respectively. National Team standards are set higher than the entry standards. Yuki Matsushita (M 400mH), Satomi Kubokura (W 400mH), and Yuki Ebihara (W JT) showing quality performances, hitting the Entry Standards. Fans also witnessed new U20 Japanese records from Satomi Kubokura and Haruka Kitaguchi (W JT) and a new Japanese High School from Masaki Ejima in the pole vault.
The entire results of the SEIKO Golden Grand Prix can be found at the event website, http://goldengrandprix-japan.com/en-us/ .
