In brief: Justin Gatlin takes Golden Gala 100m again
ATHLETICS: Justin Gatlin won the 100 meters at the Golden Gala for a second straight year, while Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar set a meet record in topping a high-class high jump on Thursday in Rome.
Gatlin, who set a year-leading time of 9.87 seconds last month, was in front from the start and finished in 9.91, 0.11 ahead of Jamaica’s Nesta Carter.
“I go out with the gun and hold it to the end,” Gatlin said. “I am definitely satisfied. My aim? I want to achieve my third victory in a row in Rome next year. This should be a good season. One of my goals is also a win at my own national championships.”
In the high jump, Barshim achieved a personal best as he matched the Diamond League record and year-leading height of 2.41 meters set by Olympic champion Ivan Ukhov of Russia in Doha.
It was an all-American podium in the 100 hurdles where Australia’s Olympic champion, Sally Pearson, pulled out shortly before the event after hurting herself in the warmup.
World champion Brianna Rollins won on her Diamond League debut, with a year-best time of 12.53, 0.01 ahead of Dawn Harper-Nelson. Queen Harrison was third in 12.61.
In the women’s 100, American Tori Bowie smashed her personal best in winning in 11.05, as two-time Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce finished only eighth.
American Lashawn Merritt recovered from his disappointment at the last Diamond League meet in Eugene, where he was edged in a photo finish by Kirani James, to win the 400.
Crane opens St. Jude with 63
GOLF: Ben Crane shot a 7-under 63 at TPC at Southwind to take the lead in the suspended first round of the St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.
Crane took advantage of a 3 1/2-hour delay that left nearly perfect scoring conditions with no wind and rain-softened greens. He had five of his seven birdies on his final nine, just before play was suspended because of darkness. Sixty players were unable to finish the round.
Peter Malnati shot a 65, and Billy Horschel also was 5 under with two holes left to play.
Crane needed only 24 putts for his best round of the season.
Phil Mickelson opened with a 67.
Ferris High grad Alex Prugh shot a 2-over 72.
• Wie, Park share LPGA lead: Michelle Wie and defending champion Hee Young Park shared the first-round lead at 6-under 65 in the Manulife Financial Classic at windswept Grey Silo in Waterloo, Ontario.
Wie, the winner in Hawaii in April, birdied three of the last four holes in her morning round. She’s seeking her second victory in Canada after winning the 2010 Canadian Women’s Open in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Park had a bogey-free round in the afternoon.
China’s Shanshan Feng was a stroke back.
Wendy Ward of Edwall, Washington shot 70 and former UI standout Kayla Mortellaro had a 78.