Gong brings hosts opening gold, Su wins 100m at Shanghai Diamond League

Bingtian Su of China, Kim Collins of Saint Kitts and Nevis and Jarrion Lawson of USA compete at the 2017 Shanghai Diamond League on May 13, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

SHANGHAI -- China's top sprinter Su Bingtian stormed to win the non-points scoring men's 100m race, and world silver medalist Gong Lijiao scored a convincing victory in women's shot put in the opening event, while double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson won the women's 100m in a world leading time at the 2017 Shanghai Diamond League here on Saturday.

Su ran his season best time of 10.09 seconds to win the men's 100m to send the home spectators into ecstacy, although it was not a points-scoring event in the second stop of the prestigious league.

"I ran faster than I had expected," said Su, 27, who was the first Chinese to reach the world men's 100m final in 2015 Beijing World Championships.

"Since the London World Championships is still months away, I will not think too much about it now and just horn my skills and keep a steady form," said Su.

Earlier, world silver medalist Gong Lijiao scored a convincing victory of 19.46 meters in the women's shot put, the opening event of the night.

A throw of 19.29m in the fifth round was enough for the 28-year-old Chinese to clinch her third gold here, but she went on to hurl her winning mark of 19.46 meters in the sixth round to demonstrate her dominance.

Daniella Bunch of the United States finished second at 18.98m and Hungary's Anita Marton, the bronze medalist at Rio Olympic Games, took the third place at 18.69m.

For the first time, the men's and women's discus events were combined into a single event and the world's best male and female throwers competed in alternating rounds, a change introduced by local organizers.

Croatia's Olympic champion Sandra Perkovic and Philip Milanov of Belgium emerged as respective women's and men's winners in the reformed event.

Perkovic said the change to the event had surprised her and she felt there was a little crowded in the waiting area as so many athletes would be there to compete.

The women's 100m title went to Thompson with little surprise as she ran the year's leading time of 10.78 seconds. Rio Olympics runner-up Tori Bowie came second and Marie-Josee Ta Lou was third.

"I made a great start and I was able to bring it home. I am pleased with the time," said the Jamaican star.

The men's long jump witnessed the best result on Saturday as Rio Olympics silver medalist Luvo Manyonga of South Africa leapt to a Diamond League record of 8.61m to win. Yet, Manyonga thought there is still more room to improve.

"The track was really fast and that made it difficult and I did a few fouls (three) and that was a distraction," he said. "I didn't get the distance today I wanted as I was looking for 8.80m but I know it will come."

Local jumpers Gao Xinglong took the silver in 8.22, Huang Changzhou finished third in 8.20 and Zhang Yaoguang fourth in 8.19.

In other men's events, former world champion Bershawn Jackson bounced back to take an early season 400m hurdles win, while Rio Olympic champion Kerron Clement finished a disappointing fourth.

The American, 34, clocked a meet record time of 48.63 while South African LJ van ZYL came second in 49.35. The 25-year-old Rasmus Magi from Estonia, the youngest in the field, took the bronze in 49.38. 2015 Beijing World Championships winner Nicholas Bett of Kenya finished eighth in over 50 seconds.

"It was great, I felt good. I didn't back off too much down the back straight and executed coming home," said Jackson, 2005 Helsinki world champion and 2008 Olympics bronze medalist. "You know I had a terrible season last year. I lost my father and my best friend. This season I'm mentally back. I've had a long career and this will be my last year in the sport."

"I just want to go out with a bang," he said.

The high jump did not see too much show from 2015 worlds' runner-up Zhang Guowei and Rio Olympics champion Derek Drouin even failed to clear the first bar at 2.20 meters.

Still troubled by a hip injury, Zhang stopped at 2.24m while teammate Wang Yu went on to clear 2.30m to take the silver. Qatar's Rio Olympics runner-up Mutaz Essa Barshim won the gold in 2.33, five centimenters away from the meet record he set here in 2015. Ukraine's Andriy Protsenko came third.

Olympic champion Omar McLeod of Jamaica clinched the 110m hurdles title, holding off the challenge from Spaniard Orlando Ortega, the silver medalist at the Rio Games, at the final sprint to finish home in 13.09. Shanghai native Xie Wenjun finished third in 13.31.

Olympic bronze medalist Sam Kendricks of the United States beat the indoor world record holder Renaud Lavillenie to win the men's pole vault in 5.88m while Frenchman Lavillenie finished at 5.83m. World champion Shawn Barber of Canada came third at 5.60m.

World junior champion Noah Lyles, 19, produced a shining performance on the senior stage when he clinched the 200m with a world leading time of 19.90, beating fellow American and Rio Olympics 400m bronze medalist LaShawn Merritt. China's Xie Zhenye finished fifth in a national record time of 20.40.

"I come off running a good indoor season and at World Relays. The expectation for the rest of the season is to focus on the 200m -- I think that is my strong suit," said the Nanjing Youth Olympics champion.

Men's 800m saw Kenyan runners sweep the top five as junior world champion Kipyegon Bett nailed the victory in 1:44.70, ahead of Robert Biwott and Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich.

In women's field, reigning Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon of Kenya clocking a world lead time of 3:59.22 to retain her 1,500m title. Ethiopia's Dawit Seyaum finished second in 4:00:52 and her compatriot Besu Sado placed third in 4:03.10.

Bahrain's world record holder Ruth Jebet beat her Kenyan arch-rival Hyvin Kiyeng en route to set the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase meet record of nine minutes and 4.78 seconds. Kiyeng finished second in 9:06.72 while Celliphine Chespol, also from Kenya, took the third place in 9:07.08.

Bahamas' Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo claimed the 400m title with a world leading time of 49.77 seconds. Natasha Hasting of the United States took the silver in 50.74 while Olha Zemlyak of Ukriane finished third in 50.89.

Rio Olympics silver medalist Hellen Obiri won the most ardous event of the night, timing 14:22.47 in the 5,000m, leaving Ethiopia's world silver medalist Senbere Teferi and Letesenbet Gidey to the second and third respectively.