GATESHEAD, England (REUTERS) - Trayvon Bromell underlined his position as the favorite for the Olympic Games 100 meters when he delivered a dominant gun to tape performance to win in 9.98 seconds at the final Diamond League meeting before Tokyo.
Bromell, winner of the U.S. trials and the fastest in the world this year with 9.77, will be seeking to reclaim the Olympic crown for the U.S. after 13 years in the possession of Usain Bolt.
And, despite cool conditions in Gateshead on the north-east English coast, he looked in great shape to do so, getting out quickly, consolidating by halfway and cruising over the line by a distance from British duo CJ Ujah (10.10) and Zharnel Hughes (10.13).
Fellow Tokyo-bound American Fred Kerley, however, faded to fifth in 10.13 after a good start, while Canadian Andre de Grasse (fourth in 10.13), looked much sharper running the anchor leg in a 4x100 meter relay later in the evening, just failing to chase down Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake who brought home the British team in a world lead of 38.27 seconds.