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World Indoor Athletics Championships: Christian Coleman holds off Noah Lyles for 60 metres gold, Ackeem Blake third
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Published 01/03/2024 at 23:20 GMT
The World Indoor Athletics Championships got underway in Glasgow on Friday. The fastest of the fast were on show at the Commonwealth Arena, as Christian Coleman got the better of fellow American sprinter Noah Lyles to take the gold medal in the 60 metres. Coleman blasted out of the blocks and had enough in hand to hold off the late charge of Lyles.
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Christian Coleman won a clash of the sprinting titans, beating big rival Noah Lyles to gold in the 60 metres at the World Indoor Athletics Championships.
When it was confirmed the American duo would face each other in Glasgow it raised the expectation for the three-day spectacular.
They have contrasting styles - with Lyles dominant at the longer sprints with his power, and Coleman technically brilliant at the minimum distance in part due to his stunning starts.
Coleman was quickest in the heats and the semis, and victory was never in doubt in the final from the moment he flashed out of the blocks.
The world-record holder gained a metre as soon as the gun went off and had daylight on his rival at the 40-metre mark.
Lyles got into his running in the final 40 metres, but Coleman had too much in hand and held on for gold in a time of 6:41.
Silver went to Lyles (6.44), with Ackeem Blake of Jamaica taking bronze with a time of 6.46.
"These opportunities don't come around often when you are feeling good and healthy," Coleman told BBC Sport. "To come out on top is amazing and you never take it for granted, I look forward to the rest of the season."
Coleman will look to take confidence into the outdoor season, with an eye trained on the Olympics in Paris.
"I have been working on and focusing on my weaknesses and getting on with it in my own way," he said. "The main thing was to allow my body to naturally do what I have been coaching it to do.
"I am excited. It is 2024 and I am stepping into my prime mentally, physically and spiritually. I am going to have to be on my A game and I feel confident I will be there [Olympics]."
Maria Vicente arrived in Glasgow for the pentathlon as the world leader, but left the Commonwealth Arena on a stretcher.
Vicente looked excellent when winning her heat of the 60 metres hurdles, but her challenge came to an end in the high jump. Mid-way through her approach, Vicente took a false step before collapsing and clutching her Achilles.
She received treatment for some time before being taken out of the arena on a stretcher.
Gold in the pentathlon went to Noor Vidts who overhauled Saga Vanninen in the concluding 800 metres to defend the title.
British pair Georgia Bell and Revee Walcott-Nolan qualified for the final of the 1500 metres, taking second place in their heats.
The two British men in the 1500 metres hit the deck after tangles with other athletes. Adam Fogg fell early in his heat and although he got back up he faded late in the race. But Fogg will be in the final as he was reinstated on appeal.
Callum Elson suffered what appeared to be a nasty injury to his left leg after being clipped by Elzan Bibic.
Elson pulled up immediately, and was taken off the track in a wheelchair.
Netherlands have a strong hand in the women’s 400 metres, as Lieke Klaver (51.18) and Femke Bol (50.66) were impressive winners of the two semi-finals.
There will be British representation in the final after Laviai Nielsen took third behind Bol.
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The Olympic Games will return with Paris 2024, live on Eurosport and discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com
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