Justin Gatlin of the United States celebrates winning gold with mascots after the Men's 60 Metres Final during day two - WIC Istanbul (© Getty Images)
Picking up where he left off after a sterling run in the semi-finals, Justin Gatlin powered to the men’s 60m World title.
With his commanding 6.46 victory, the 30-year-old Floridian joins Canadian Bruny Surin, who won back-to-back titles in 1993 and 1995, as a second two-time 60m champion.
"I came here dominating and I wanted to follow up," said Gatlin, also the 2004 Olympic 100m champion and the double sprint World champion in 2005. "I just had to make sure that once the gun sounded, I went out."
With a visible lead over prime challenger Nesta Carter just 20 metres into the race, Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic champion and double sprint World champion outdoors in 2005, extended it over the next 40 to run away unchallenged in the same time he produced to take his first title in Birmingham nine years ago.
"I won the 2003 World Indoors Championships in Birmingham with exactly the same time and it feels great to be back. I have my confidence back and I dropped a couple of pounds. I got one medal around my neck and I am now going for the next one."
Carter was well back but still a strong second in 6.54 to take home the first Jamaican medal in the event since 1997when Michael Green also won silver.
"My start was good, but I still have to work on my execution," said Carter, a member of Jamaican World record-setting 4x100m Relay quartets in 2008 and 2011. "This is a good preparation for the outdoor season and I will resume training on Tuesday."
The battle for bronze couldn’t have been much closer with Great Britain’s defending champion Dwain Chambers eventually getting the nod over world leader Trell Kimmons (USA), both credited with 6.60. It was the third World indoor medal for Chambers who now boast a full collection after 2010 gold and 2008 joint silver.
"I am not disappointed about the bronze medal because it is great to get a medal at all," Chambers said.
The blanket finish continued for the next three spots with just 0.03 separating places five, six and seven. Trinidad & Tobago’s Marc Burns for the nod for fifth in 6.62, just ahead of Frenchman Emmanuel Biron (6.63) and Canadian Justyn Warner (6.65).
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
