Liang wins first gold for China at Doha track worlds

AFP

Liang Rui led a one-two finish for China in the women's 50-kilometer race walk event at the 2019 IAAF world championships in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday.

Wearing a towel with ice wrapped in around her neck, the 25-year-old Liang enjoyed a comfortable lead after 25km of the race and clinched the victory in 4 hours, 23 minutes, 26 seconds.

"The weather conditions for the race were very, very tough because of the temperature and humidity. Before the race I was worried that I might collapse halfway. So my goal was to finish the race first and then try to win a medal," Liang said.

Her teammate Li Maocuo took the silver medal in 4:26.40 and Eleonora Anna Giorgi of Italy finished third in a time of 4:29.13.

On Saturday, American sprinter Christian Coleman clocked a world-leading time of 9.76 seconds in the 100-meter blue ribbon event, trimming 0.03 seconds off his personal best achieved 13 months ago. Compatriot and defending champion Justin Gatlin took silver in 9.89. Andre De Grasse of Canada was third in 9.90.

"I've been blessed with incredible talent and tonight I was able to show it. I have been working incredibly hard and this just makes it all worthwhile," the 23-year-old said.

Coleman paid tribute to his teammate Gatlin, 37, who first won the world championships in 2005 and claimed the Olympic title in 2004.

"Justin Gatlin is a great guy and great competitor. I remember watching him back in 2004 when I was eight years old and to think all these years later I could come and win gold, too, is a great feeling," he said.

American DeAnna Price hurled a winning mark of 77.54 meters from her third-round effort to take the hammer title. Joanna Fiodorow of Poland took the silver at 76.35, while China's Wang Zheng, silver medalist at the London worlds two years ago, finished third at 74.76.

Reuters