SHENYANG, China — Xie Zhenye clocked a brisk 10.03 seconds to win the 100 meters at China’s 2019 World Championships trials in the city of Shenyang on Friday (2).
Xie entered the championships as the form athlete and he showed his dominance by sprinting away from his rivals to secure his eighth national title.
Earlier at the trials in the semi-finals, the 25-year-old Chinese national record holder posted 10.09 seconds to qualify top of the list.
Xie’s 10.03 winning time in the final on Friday was his second-fastest of the season, behind his year-best of 10.01, achieved when finishing second to American Christian Coleman at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Oslo in June.
It was also the sixth time he was running under 10.10 seconds this year and he owns the Chinese record with a personal best of 9.97 secs from 2018.
Former national champion and record holder Su Bingtian finished second in the race on Friday in 10.17, while third place went to Xu Zhouzheng in 10.20, just ahead of Liang Jinsheng (10.21).
Meanwhile, Xie stayed on course to win the sprint double after qualifying with the fastest time in the 200m.
The Asian champion ran 20.67 secs to win his semi-final heat in a -2.6 m/s headwind.
He comes into these championships in great form over the half-lap, having covered the event in a stunning 19.88 to smash the Asian record at Muller Anniversary Games – IAAF Diamond League meeting at London Stadium last month.
Bie Ge won the next semi-finals in 20.97, but his expected to go much faster in the final.
Also breaking 21-seconds was teenager Suo Gaofei, who ran 20.94 to take second behind Xie in his heat.
The 18-year-old won the National Championships last month with a personal best of 20.87.
Wang Jianan, the 2015 world bronze medallist, won the men’s long jump title with a season-best equalling effort of 8.18m in the fourth round of the competition.
Zhang Yaoguang, who has a year best of 8.25m, was second at the trials with 8.01m.
The men’s pole vault went to Huang Bokai after he cleared a personal best of 5.71m to win his first national title.
Liang Xiaojing bagged the women’s 100m crown with a time of 11.27 (-1.2) to beat Wei Yongli (11.38) and Ge Manqi (11.49).
World champion Gong Lijiao won the women’s Shot Put with a throw of 19.16m.