Chinese sprinter Xie Zhenye (© AFP / Getty Images)
Xie Zhenye earned his second gold medal at the Chinese National Games as he improved his own national 200m record to 20.20 at the quadrennial multi-sport competition in Tianjin on Tuesday (5).
The 24-year-old, who won the 200m at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games, trimmed 0.20 off his own national record en route to his overwhelming victory in 20.20. National U20 record-holder Liang Jinsheng finished second in 20.74 and Bie Ge took the bronze medal in 20.78.
Xie has twice broken the national 200m record this season, having clocked 20.40 at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Shanghai in May.
“I am in very good shape today and I knew I could improve my personal best” said Xie. “I was quite confident about it, but I didn’t think I would run so fast.”
It was Xie’s second gold medal in Tianjin. Two days ago he stunned highly favoured Su Bingtian, the national record-holder and two-time World Championships finalist, to win the 100m in a PB of 10.04.
“It feels like a dream come true,” Xie said. “Four years ago I saw Zhang Peimeng collect 100m and 200m gold medals at the National Games, a feat that I admired so much. And now I have accomplished such a feat.
“It feels good to stick with your dream and realise it one day.”
Su Xinyue, the seventh-place finisher at the IAAF World Championships London 2017, hurled a season’s best of 64.56m in the opening round of the women’s discus to win gold. Feng Bin took the silver with 64.46m and Chen Yang finished third with 62.64m.
The women’s discus was close, but the men’s high jump was even closer as the top four finishers all cleared the same height.
Wang Yu, a finalist at the recent World Championships, retained his title on count-back with a best of 2.27m. 2015 world silver medallist Zhang Guowei, still struggling to find his form, had to settle for third place behind local jumper Wang Chen.
“I do not care much about the result,” said Zhang, who set a PB of 2.38m in 2015. “The muscle injury in my leg has been affecting my performance for the entire season. I believe I will bounce back next year. Clearing 2.40m is my ultimate goal and I hope I can accomplish it before turning 33.”
In the men’s javelin, former Asian record-holder Zhao Qinggang sealed the victory with his opening-round effort of 80.04m in what was his first competition of the year. The 32-year-old Asian Games champion has been bothered by injuries in recent seasons but maintained his domestic dominance.
Ma Qun took the silver with a throw of 79.91m, while Liu Qizhen finished third with 79.67m.
Wu Shuijiao successfully defended her 100m hurdles title in 12.97, winning by 0.37 from Wang Dou.
Also on Monday, teenager Feng Zhiqiang cut 0.04 off his PB to win the men’s 400m hurdles in 49.66, while Wang Huan clocked 55.99 to win the women’s event.
In the women’s 200m, unheralded Huang Guifen, who turned 20 last month, upset a strong field to win in 23.24.
Yuan Qiqi bulit up a lead off the curve and led until the final 20 metres, but she stumbled before falling down over the finish line. Yuan had to settle with for a second silver medal with a 0.04 deficit after finishing second in the 100m on Sunday. Ge Manqi finished third in 23.36.
An in-form Wang Wupin beat defending champion Li Yanmei to win the women’s triple jump with 13.88m. Each of Wang’s five valid jumps was good enough for her to clinch the gold medal.
In the men’s 10,000m, Duo Bujie improved his PB by more than a minute to win in 28:26.86. Team Shandong claimed the inaugural 400m medley relay title with a winning mark of 3:18.08.
Vincent Wu for the IAAF
