OSLO: Flying Dutchwoman Dafne Schippers fired a warning shot at potential Olympic rivals with a crushing win in the 200m at the Diamond League meeting in Oslo on Thursday.
The world champion ran a fast bend and hit the back straight ahead of in-form Jamaican Elaine Thompson, in her outside lane, in chilly conditions at Bislett Stadium.
Schippers, the 2014 European double sprint champion, clocked 21.93 seconds, with world silver medallist Thompson second in 22.64sec.
“To run under 22 seconds in these conditions is very special for me,” said the Dutchwoman who set the Beijing world championships alight last year with victory in a third-fastest time ever of 21.63sec.
“The curve here is excellent, but I must admit that the last 50 metres were very tough.
“After all the Diamond Leagues I need to rest and train a little bit before the (July 6-10) European Championships in my country. No more races until then.”
Canada’s Andre De Grasse was almost handed a shock in the 100m by 40-year-old Kim Collins, who blasted out of the blocks and was leading through 60 metres before pulling up in agony with a left hamstring injury.
De Grasse, world bronze medallist last year in Beijing, powered past the stranded St Kitts and Nevis veteran to win in 10.07sec ahead of Americans Michael Rodgers (10.09) and Dentarius Locke (10.12).
Asbel Kiprop, triple world champion, 2008 Olympic champion and current world lead in the 1500m, produced the goods to kick out on his own to win a fifth fabled Dream Mile title in 3:51.48.
Kiprop, who was awarded the Olympic gold for the 1500m after the original winner, Rashid Ramzi, tested positive for doping, finished ahead of current world number two and world silver medallist, fellow countryman, Elijah Motonei Manangoi, while current Olympic 1500m champion Taoufik Makhloufi of Algeria rounded out the podium.