Gatlin sizzles in Diamond League

US sprinter Tyson Gatlin continued his unbeaten sprint season by running a personal best in the 200 metres with 19.68 seconds at a sizzling Monaco Diamond League meeting.

Gatlin already was the year’s leader at 100 metres. Jamaican Nickel Ashmeade was his closest challenger at 19.99 seconds with France’s Christophe Lemaitre third and American Tyson Gay fourth.

“I’m ready to face the best Jamaicans in both sprints,” the 32-year-old Gatlin said. “This year I want to win the Diamond Race in the 100m and stay unbeaten.”

Elsewhere on the track, Kenyan Silas Kiplagat shocked compatriot Asbel Kiprop to become the fourth-fastest 1,500 metres runner of all time.

Kiplagat broke through to run a year-leading three minutes, 27.64 seconds and surprise two-time world champion Kiprop, who was attempting to break Hicham El Guerrouj’s 16-year-old world record of 3:26.00 in the race.

“I could see Silas coming closer and closer. It was a tough race,” said Kiprop, who ran 3:28.45.

Olympic silver medallist Amos delivered a second middle-distance surprise when he defeated fading Kenyan world record holder and Olympic champion David Rudisha in the 800 metres.

Amos finished in 1:42.45, the year’s top time, with Pierre-Ambroise Bosse setting a French record of 1:42.53 in second place. Rudisha was fifth.