Christian Coleman installed himself as favourite for the 100 metres world title by storming to the fastest time of the year in Oslo.
The American, who became world indoor champion in Birmingham 15 months ago, left his rivals for dead in winning the Oslo Diamond League meet in 9.85 seconds.
A sell-out Bislett Games crowd of 14,200 saw the 23-year-old explode out of the blocks and hold his form to the line, finishing ahead of Xie Zhenye (10.01) and Michael Rogers (10.04).
CJ Ujah was best of the Brits in 10.18secs, ahead of Tommy Ramdhan (10.28), after Reece Prescod was struck down by cramp two-thirds of the way to the line.
Coleman’s winning time leapfrogs him over compatriot Noah Lyles, who has decided to focus only on the 200m in Doha this autumn.
At the last World Championships in London two years ago Coleman beat Usain Bolt in the 100m final but had to settle for the silver medal behind Justin Gatlin.
Shelayna Oskan-Clarke, Britain’s European Indoor 800m champion, ran a season’s best 2:03.45 in a dramatic race which saw Lynsey Sharp tripped up at the bell.
Caster Semenya claims she has been denied entry into the 800m at Sunday’s Rabat Diamond League meet, despite Switzerland’s highest court rejecting an IAAF request for eligibility regulations to be reimposed on her.
