ROME: American Ronnie Baker upset compatriot Chris Coleman for the second time in a week when he beat the world championship silver medallist in the 100 metres at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea meeting on Thursday.

Baker, winner at the Eugene meeting last Saturday, set the fastest time this year as he won in 9.93 seconds ahead of Frenchman Jimmy Vicaut, the European record holder, and Italian Filippo Tortu.

Coleman, who beat Jamaican great Usain Bolt into third place at the world championships in London last year when he was runner-up to Justin Gatlin, was fourth.

Qatar’s Abderrahaman Samba also shone in the fourth round of the Diamond League series as he confirmed his recent form with a blistering time in the men’s 400m hurdles.

Samba trailed world champion Karsten Warholm of Norway before bursting into the lead around the final turn at the Stadio Olimpico to clock 47.48 seconds. It was the fastest time in the event since Angelo Taylor ran 47.25 to take gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

America’s Georganne Moline also set a scorching pace for a season’s best 53.97 seconds in the women’s 400m hurdles.

Timothy Cheruiyot avenged his defeat by fellow Kenyan Elijah Manangoi at the worlds by winning the 1500m in 3 minutes 31.22 seconds, more than two seconds clear of the world champion.

World silver medallist Marie Jose Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast pulled away down the home straight for a convincing win in the women’s 200m ahead of Bulgarian Ivet Lalova-Collio.

In other events, Mariya Lasitskene of Russia posted her 40th consecutive victory in the high jump, clearing 2.02, to extend a streak that began nearly two years ago; and Luvo Manyonga of South Africa improved his world lead in the long jump with a leap of 8.58 improving on his 8.56 in Shanghai in May.

Also, two-time Olympic champion Sandra Perkovic won the discus with a meet-record throw of 68.93 as she aims for a record-extending seventh Diamond League title.

American world pole vault champion Sam Kendricks claimed back-to-back wins after Eugene with a season’s best 5.84 metres.

Commonwealth champion Fedrick Dacres of Jamaica was the surprise winner of the men’s discus with a throw of 68.51 metres.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2018