Jamaican athlete Oblique Seville blasted out of the blocks, winning the 100 meter in 9.86 seconds ahead of Olympic champion Noah Lyles at the London Diamond League.
Seville came into a two-meter lead after 20 meter and was never threatened, with Lyles finishing strongly, for second in 10.00, and fellow Jamaican Ackeem Blake finishing third in 10.08.
“I am proud of how I ran amongst a stacked field and to win. I was the only one to run under 10 seconds today. It is something special and phenomenal heading into a major championship later this year,” Seville said, looking ahead to the World Championships.
“Everything I have been practising in training, I delivered out there today. Coming out here and performing against these athletes makes me want to push a little harder. London is where I wanted to run, so getting the Diamond League win here is very special to me.”
Meanwhile, Lyles was also ecstatic. “I feel great after that. I feel extremely healthy and no pain,” he said. “I wanted the win, but I think it was my fastest-ever season opener so that I will take that result today.”
St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred won the women’s 200m in a scorching personal best of 21.71 seconds. British duo Dina Asher-Smith (22.25) and Amy Hunt (22.31) were second and third, respectively. Alfred forged ahead in the race’s latter stages to clock a meeting record.
Briton Charlie Dobson was a surprise winner of the 400m, as Dobson overhauled Matt Hudson-Smith on the line with a personal best of 44.14 seconds. Hudson-Smith finished second in 44.27 and Zakithi Nene third in 44.29.
18-year-old Kenyan Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech won the 1,500m in 3:28.82 forcing past Britain’s world champion, Josh Kerr.
Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyoni won the 800m in 1:42.00 ahead of Canadian Marco Arop.
Medina Eisa beat fellow Ethiopian Fantaye Belayneh in the women’s 5,000 metres to snatch victory in 14.30.97 as Belayneh set a personal best of 14:30.90.
Georgia Hunter Bell won in the women’s 800m in 1:56.74 ahead of American Addison Wiley.
Mykolas Alekna won the discus with a Diamond League record of 71.70 meters.
