Bromell wins world 60m indoor sprint

American sprinter Trayvon Bromell has won the 60m title from Asafa Powell and Ramon Gittens at the world indoor track and field championships in Oregon.

Trayvon Bromell captured the 60-metre title on Friday at the world indoor track and field championships in the United States in a race that was so close, it took more than five minutes to determine the rest of the medallists.

The American was the clear winner, finishing in 6.47 seconds. He even ran backwards down his lane in his exuberance and had the flag draped around him as he waited to see who would join him in celebration.

When everything was sorted out, Jamaican Asafa Powell was moved up to second and Ramon Gittens of Barbados third, just ahead of China's Xie Zhenye and Su Bingtian.

A nearly 40-year-old Kim Collins was originally announced as the runner-up before slipping to eighth in the review.

The field was missing big names Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin, who were absent by choice, as well as Russia's team - not competing amid an ongoing doping and corruption scandal.

The absence of one of track's top nations could be a glimpse of what the Rio Olympics might be like, should the country not be reinstated in time to compete.

Brianne Theisen-Eaton of Canada had the race of the night, making up major ground in the 800m to win the pentathlon gold.

Her husband Ashton Eaton leads the heptathlon after the first day, but is slightly off his world-record pace.

In other finals, Nia Ali of the US defended her title in the 60m hurdles, holding off teammate Brianna Rollins.

American Brittney Reese used a powerful final leap to capture the long jump. Australian Brooke Stratton finished fifth ahead of countrywoman Chelsea Jaensch in 11th.

Tomas Walsh of New Zealand won the shot put, ending an American domination in the event at the world indoors that began in 2004.

Bromell is a rising talent in a deep US sprinting pool. He captured a share of the bronze medal at the world outdoor championships last season in Beijing.

"I felt comfortable and I just kept going," Bromell said. "I was going to run into the Portland sign (at the end of the track) so I could win this race."

Collins tumbled from silver down to last place after the review. He still became the oldest male to make a world indoor final, taking over the honour from American Bernard Lagat, who was a few months over 39 when he made the 3000m final in 2014, according to the IAAF.

"Age is age," said Collins, who will turn 40 next month. "But again, I work so hard to take care of my body. Worked so hard to give me back that goodness."

He has no plans to retire anytime soon, either.

Never in the history of the world indoors has a Jamaican man won the 60m. Powell was trying to end that streak.

"It's kind of surprising, because the last couple of years we've had a lot of great sprinters," Powell said.


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