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More news articles Stewart and Williams-Mills set world-leading marks in Kingston
Dwight Phillips, LaShawn Merritt and Lashinda Demus also impress
5th Jamaica International Invitational, Kingston, May 2
EVEN though many of Jamaica’s Olympic champions were sidelined through injury, Kerron Stewart and Novlene Williams-Mills delivered emphatic performances in the absences of their more illustrious predecessors.
In the women’s 100m, Stewart delivered a decisive world-lead of 10.92 (+1.2.) The Olympic silver medallist easily defeated the USA’s Marshavet Hooker (11.14), whilst the Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser was not at her best, placing third (11.15.)
Williams-Mills, the world bronze medallist from Osaka defeated Sanya Richards in the 400m. The Jamaican star set a world-lead of 50.99, to defeat the American record-holder (51.12), who announced she was also not in her top form because of illness.
American veteran Darvis Patton scored a sprint double, defeating strong opposition in both events. In the 100m, the Olympic finalist clocked 10.02 (+0.1), defeating Antigua’s Daniel Bailey (10.02), Yohan Blake from Jamaica (PB 10.07), whilst the Olympic silver medallist Richard Thompson could only manage fourth (10.07.)
Patton won the 200m with a bit more ease (20.49, +1.3), whilst two-time Olympic 200m finalist Christian Malcolm was fifth in 21.06.
The 400m hurdles was a high quality affair, as Puerto Rico’s Javier Culson prevailed with a national record of 48.42, whilst the world champion Kerron Clement from the USA could only place fifth (49.10.)
In the men’s shot put, Christian Cantwell took the victory in a close competition. The world indoor champion defeated the home favourite Dorian Scott with a putt of 21.16m, defeating the Jamaican by seven centimetres, whilst Dan Taylor was third (21.05m.)
Tim Benjamin dropped out of the 400m, whilst the Olympic 400m hurdles bronze medallist Tasha Danvers was a steady seventh (57.15.)
Texas Invitational, Austin, May 2
AMERICAN 100m record-holder and the double world champion Tyson Gay made his first performance since the Olympic Games, with a strong 400m outing. Gay placed third in the 400m in 45.57, behind the victor Tabarie Henry (45.07.)
Panama’s Alonso Edward produced a very surprising performance in the 100m. The 19-year-old, who crashed out of the heats of the World Junior Championships last year showed promise with a 10.28 performance in 2007 and the little known Panamanian blasted to a 9.97 performance but unluckily for Edward, this was produced with an advantage of a 2.3 tailwind.
Jamaica’s Steve Mullings was second (10.00), whilst Antigua’s Brendan Christian was third (10.02), before winning the 200m in 19.98, but the wind gauge recorded an agonising +2.1.
Britain’s Chris Gowell was third in the 800m in 1:47.73, which was just outside his lifetime best of 1:47.42, set last month.
Meeting Region Guadeloupe, Baie Mahult, May 1
FORMER Olympic champion Dwight Phillips showed he was back to his best with a dominant 8.51m (+1.8) long jump performance. The American, who was out of sorts last year did not have the opportunity to defend his title but Phillips looks to be one of the favourites to regain his world title in Berlin. Brian Johnson was second with a leap of 8.29m (+1.9.)
Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt looked in fine early season shape with an early world-lead of 44.50, defeating a strong field including Andrae Williams (45.04) and Gary Kikaya (45.30.) Merritt currently holds the world-leading mark for 200m and 400m.
Lashinda Demus produced her best ever seasonal debut in the women’s 400m hurdles, clocking 54.17, whilst the two-time Olympic champion Angelo Taylor won the men’s equivalent (48.97.)
Kamila Skolimowska Memorial, Warsaw, May 2
IN order to remember the sudden passing of the former Olympic champion Kamila Skolimowska in February, the inaugural meeting attracted fine line-ups. The Olympic silver medallist Krisztian Pars from Hungary won the men’s event (80.52m), whilst Slovakia’s Martina Hrasnova won the women’s event (72.10m.)
Shizuoka International Meeting, May 3
Josphat Muchiri Ndambiri and Martin Irungu Mathathi both dipped under the 27-minute barrier for 10000m. Ndambiri clocked 26:57.36, defeating his compatriot (26:59.88.)
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