ITALIAN Lamont Marcell Jacobs ran the men’s 100m final in 9.80 seconds to pull off a stunning upset and claim the gold medal in Tokyo last night.

Jacobs, 26, was born in Texas, the United States, and moved to Italy as a young child.

American Fred Kerley earned the silver medal with a time of 9.84 seconds, while Canada’s Andre De Grasse earned bronze at 9.89.

Italy had never won Olympic gold in the men’s 100m before yesterday.

This was the first men’s 100m post-Usain Bolt, and after American Trayvon Bromell, who had run the two fastest times in the world this year, struggled to even make the semifinals after a lackluster opener and then didn’t make the final, the race was truly wide open.

Even then, Jacobs’ victory was a surprise. He finished third in his semifinal heat at 9.84 seconds, behind twin 9.83s posted by China’s Su Bingtian, who got an incredible start and rode it to a new Asian record, and American Ronnie Baker.

Kerley surprised American track observers when he dropped down to the 100m and 200m at the U.S. Trials, since he was bronze medalist in the 400m at the 2019 world championships. He won his semifinal in 9.96 seconds.

While the Jamaican women were incredible Saturday, sweeping the medals in their 100m, the country did not have a man in the final.

China’s Su came sixth in 9.98.

Su set a new Asian record in the men’s 100m with a time of 9.83 seconds at the Tokyo Olympics semifinals yesterday to become the first Chinese sprinter to qualify for the final of the event.

Former Chinese men’s 110m Olympic gold medalist Liu Xiang congratulated Su on Sina Weibo: “You’re the man! 9.83 seconds!”

Su, 32, also became the first Asian athlete to reach the Olympic final of the event since the digital timer was introduced.

Su finally achieved his long-time goal in his third Olympic Games. He already ran below 10 seconds in 100m competitions twice this year. He finished the preliminary race at 10.05 seconds. (SD News)