Gatlin edges Powell in Doha

American sprinters roll at Doha Diamond League

Gatlin edges Powell in Doha

Allyson Felix, Walter Dix and Justin Gatlin all raced to meet records while LaShawn Merritt recorded a meet record and established a world-leading time as Americans dominated the sprinting events in the opening meet of the Diamond League season Friday in Doha, Qatar.

At the first of 14 meetings in the Diamond League this year, Jillian Camarena-Williams (second in the shot put), Jesse Williams (second in the high jump), Kellie Wells (second in the 100m hurdles) and Angelo Taylor (third in the 400m) joined Felix (100m), Dix (200m), Gatlin (100m) and Merritt (400m) in picking up top three finishes Friday.

In her second 100m of the year, Felix, the two-time Olympic silver medalist in the 200m, ran to a personal best of 10.92 to finish just ahead of two-time Olympic 200m gold medalist Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica, who placed second in 10.94. It’s the second victory in the event already in 2012 for Felix. LaShauntea Moore placed fifth at 11.13.

Dix, the 2011 World Outdoor silver medalist in the 100m and 200m and the 2011 Diamond League champion in the 200m, separated from the field to win in 20.02.

Fresh off his World Indoor gold medal in the 60m, Gatlin edged former world record holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica to win in a time of 9.87. Mike Rodgers placed fourth in a time of 10.00.

Merritt led a 1-3 American finish in the men’s 400m as he established a new world-leading time at 44.19. The 2011 World Outdoor Championships silver medalist finished ahead of Angelo Taylor, who placed third in 44.97.

Camarena-Williams followed up her bronze medal in the shot put from the 2011 World Outdoor Championships by placing second Friday at 19.81m/65-0 and 2011 Jesse Owens Award winner and reigning world champion Williams cleared a height of 2.30m/7-6.5 to place second in the high jump.

Wells placed second in the 100m hurdles in a time of 12.72 to finish ahead of Nia Ali, who was fourth in 12.93.