He is back! American sprinter Christian Coleman, returning to competition after an 18-month suspension for anti-doping rule violations, won the 60m at the Millrose Games in New York in a very convincing time of 6 sec 49.
The reigning 100m world champion (2019 in Qatar), deprived of the Tokyo Olympics last summer because of his suspension, beat his compatriot Trayvon Bromell by one hundredth, the fastest man in 2021 (9 sec 77 over 100 m), during the 114th edition of this indoor competition.
Americans Ronnie Baker (6 sec 54) and Noah Lyles (6 sec 62) placed third and fourth.
“I just wanted to run a good race and win,” said Coleman, 25, back six months before putting his title on the line at the Worlds in Eugene (Oregon / USA).
Acclaimed by the crowd, Coleman warmed up the room at Armory Track as Manhattan was blanketed in snow outside.
Satisfied, he still gave himself an “A minus”, judging his time “not spectacular”. The American holds the world indoor record over this explosive distance (6 sec 34 in 2018 in Albuquerque, United States). The day before, he had declared that he wanted to resume with a victory, without setting a time not to “be disappointed”.
– False joy for Crouser –
After his crowning glory at Worlds in 2019, Coleman was advancing as a potential sprint boss of the post-Usain Bolt era. But three breaches of anti-doping localization obligations, synonymous with two years of suspension, then reduced to 18 months, had brutally interrupted his career.
“It’s great” to come back, he added. “I’m just happy to continue the show.”
American Ryan Crouser, in the shot put at the Millrose Games in New York, January 29, 2021 / AFP
A rare event, the evening was also marked by the false world record of the double Olympic shot put champion, the American Ryan Crouser. On his second try, the screens, then the announcer, announced an impressive 23 m 38. A performance immediately confirmed and hailed on the twitter accounts of the international federations (World athletics) and American (USATF).
But shortly after the competition, Ryan Crouser, traditional cowboy hat on his head, himself explained to AFP that “unfortunately, the laser” measuring his throw had given “an incorrect result”. “We are more around 22.50 m”, he indicated, before adding, very philosophically, that “for the start of the year it is very good”.
According to the USATF, “officials discovered that the measuring device, which was originally correctly located and calibrated, was incorrectly positioned during the competition.”
“As a result, all throws in the men’s shot put contest have been cancelled,” the federation added.
“I know a lot of people will be disappointed to hear that I didn’t do 23.38m, but I’m happy with that,” said Ryan Crouser, who still holds his previous world record (23 m 37).
In the women’s pole vault competition, Olympic champion Katie Nageotte placed third, only clearing a 4.35m jump, behind her compatriots Emily Grove (4.45m) and Sandi Morris (4.75m).
The reigning 800m world champion, Donavan Brazier, was also back after not qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics. The American, who lined up in the 400m, ranked third but he achieved his best performance over this distance (46 sec 55).
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