Trayvon Bromell wins the 60m at the IAAF World Indoor Championships Portland 2016 (© Getty Images)
Trayvon Bromell electrified a sold-out crowd by becoming the first US athlete to claim the men’s world indoor 60m title in six years with a personal best of 6.47.
Bromell, who almost didn't make it through to the final at last weekend's US Indoor Championships after finishing fourth in his semifinal, was the first man out of the blocks in lane three and maintained his lead throughout to prevail over Jamaica’s Asafa Powell (6.50) and Ramon Gittens of Barbados (6.51).
After becoming the fifth fastest man ever with a Caribbean record of 6.44 – a time he equalled in the semifinals – Powell had a poor start and had to come from behind to put himself in a medal position. He did, but could not catch the fast-finishing Bromell, who at 20 became the youngest 60m champion in the history of the championships.
Running his second national record of the day, Gittens was rewarded with his first global medal, Barbados’ second one ever at the World Indoors and the first once since 1999.
China’s Xie Zhenye improved his personal best twice on Friday to finish fourth with 6.53, ahead of his countryman Su Bingtian (6.54).
With just 0.09 separating first and eighth place, it equalled the 2014 race as the closest men's 60m final in history. And with all eight finishers running 6.56 or quicker, it was also the greatest depth race in history.
Javier Clavelo Robinson for the IAAF
