Tebogo spoils Gout's debut, Dos Santos and rising star Lutkenhaus rule Oslo

OSLO, June 10 : Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo ruined the Diamond League debut of Australian prodigy Gout Gout on Wednesday, instead sharing the spotlight with American teenager Cooper Lutkenhaus and Brazilian Alison dos Santos on a night of stellar performances in Oslo.

Much of the pre-race build-up had focused on the senior Diamond League debut of 18-year-old Gout, but Tebogo quickly asserted his authority in the men's 200 metres.

Blasting away from the young challenger and the rest of the field, the Paris Olympic gold medallist eased over the line in a commanding 19.84 seconds, while Gout finished sixth in 20.60.

The victory followed Botswanan Tebogo's second-place finish at the Rabat Diamond League meeting on May 31.

"Today, we tried to do it differently," Tebogo said. "I was about to run the proper curve because in Rabat we did not run it. I do not know what I was up to but I just knew I had that last gear to push in and just get in that sub-20."

Tebogo offered advice on Gout's transition to senior competition.

"First and foremost, he should not get comfortable racing with the seniors. He still has a long way to go," Tebogo said. "He should by all means play with his age mates where he is a bit more comfortable because the more he runs, the more he pushes and the more injuries he is going to get."

Gout remained optimistic despite the sixth-place finish.

"There's definitely a lot more room for me to improve but I have plenty of time on my side. There's always pressure on me but all I do is try my best and keep focusing on just having fun," he said.

LUTKENHAUS WINS THRILLER

In the men’s 800 metres, 17-year-old Lutkenhaus upstaged current Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi in a thrilling tactical duel. Making his move at the