American Christian Coleman says he is “stepping into his prime” after beating Noah Lyles to 60m gold in their showdown at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow.
Coleman, the world record holder in the event, clocked a world-leading 6.41 seconds to take an impressive victory.
World 100m and 200m champion Lyles, unable to add to his expanding list of global sprint titles, ran 6.44.
Jamaican Ackeem Blake beat Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala to bronze in 6.46.
“These opportunities don’t come around often when you are feeling good and healthy,” said 2019 world 100m champion Coleman, who won his last world indoor title on British soil in Birmingham six years ago.
“I am excited. It is 2024 and I am stepping into my prime mentally, physically and spiritually. I am going to have to be on my A-game and I feel confident I will be there [at the Olympics].”
Elsewhere, Great Britain’s Morgan Lake finished sixth in the women’s high jump final.
The 26-year-old came into the championships with medal ambitions but was unable to improve on her final-round clearance at 1.92 metres, as Australia’s Nicola Olyslagers beat Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh to gold.
British team captain Laviai Nielsen qualified for Saturday’s 400m final and Jemma Reekie secured her place in Sunday’s 800m medal race.
GB will also have two representatives in the women’s 1500m final – the final event of the weekend on Sunday – in Georgia Bell and Revee Walcott-Nolan, while Adam Fogg progressed in the men’s event despite tripping.
Also among the five gold medal winners on the opening day of competition at Emirates Arena, American Ryan Crouser and Canada’s Sarah Mitton were crowned shot put champions, while the Netherlands’ Sofie Doktor won the women’s pentathlon.
