The American Olympic champion in the 800m, Athing Mu, showed that she was already sharp by signing the best world performance of the season for her comeback over the distance, in 1 min 57 sec 01/10, allowing the passage to the French Renelle Lamote, second in her wake, to achieve the minimum to be able to go to the Eugene Worlds (July 15-24).

On the 200m with a dream cast, the highlight of a rather cool evening on a track still wet after the afternoon storms, Jackson won the day with a time of 21 sec 91/100.

However, she was not the favorite against Thompson-Herah, five-time Olympic champion in sprint (22.25), and British European champion Dina Asher-Smith (22.27), 2nd and 3rd respectively.

The double Olympic champion in the 400m, the Bahamian Shaunae Miller-Uibo, finished fourth (in 22.48).

The first four set their best times of the season.

Mu "super happy" with her time

"It was a good race, I can't complain. I still have to work on a few points", commented Thompson-Herah.

She said on Wednesday that she did not feel "100%" physically after her recent shoulder problems.

Farewell touring US sprint legend Allyson Felix had to settle for seventh in 22.97.

Athing Mu, a new phenomenon of the double lap, did not miss her real debut of the season over the distance after a "warm-up" at the end of April, she who had to give up the Eugene meeting at the end of May because of the Covid- 19.

The day after her 20th birthday, she quickly took matters into her own hands by taking the lead to win by several lengths.

"I'm delighted with this result. I just wanted to see where I was, I'm super happy with this time," said the American.

Renelle Lamote, second in 1:58.48, took the opportunity to take a big step towards the Worlds by passing for the first time under the minimum required by his federation (1:59.30).

Lamote relieved

"I knew if I didn't realize them today I was going to start panicking. But my coach told me don't think about that, it's really secondary," she said.

"I'm proud of myself to finish second in these not easy conditions, it was quite cool," she added.

Among the men, American Fred Kerley unsurprisingly won the 100m, signing his second 9.92 of the season in the absence of local hero, Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs, injured.

Jacobs nevertheless gave himself an ovation in the Stadio Olimpico before displaying, despite the regrets of missing this meeting in his city, his confidence in the face of reporters.

The recovery of his thigh strain is going "rather well", he assured, hoping to play "one or two" competitions before the Worlds.

The Italian Olympic height champion Gianmarco Tamberi, who wanted to console the Roman public by winning for the first time in Rome, did not succeed in his bet.

He only finished third (with a disappointing 2.24m) in a contest won by American JuVaughn Harrison (2.27m).

© 2022 AFP