by Larry Eder
A very busy evening in Kingston, Jamaica, and four world leaders!
Bolt 9.82, Blake 19.91
KINGSTON (JAM, May 5): Super star Usain Bolt started into his olympic
season with easy 9.82 (+1.8) 100 m win at the 9th Jamaica Invitational
(IAAF World Challenge). “Felt good out there..Its a good look,” Bolt
posted afterwards on his twitter. It was his fastest season debut ever,
world lead and his 27th legal sub 10 time since 2008 when he started to
compete at this distance. Behind him in a race with two false starts
(but no one disqualified) Michael Frater 10.00 and Lerone Clarke 10.01
with Nesta Carter beeing a non-starter. In total four world leads were
registered at the National Stadium. Fastest 200 m of the year was
achieved by Yohan Blake in 19.91 (+1.1, his fourth sub 20 of the career)
over Nickel Ashmeade 20.09 and Warren Weir 20.21 personal best. Fastest
women 100 m of 2012 was as expected delivered by world champion
Carmelita Jeter in 10.81 (+1.0) over Kelly-Ann Baptiste 10.86 (her
second fastest ever) and Kerron Stewart 10.98. The last world lead was
the biggest surprise. Novlene Williams-Mills achieved 49.99 at the 400 m
and beat Sanya Richards-Ross 50.11. Impressive third Christine Ohuruogu
in 50.93 over Rosemarie Whyte 50.97. Sensationally fast 37 years old
2009 world champion Brigitte Foster-Hylton in 12.51 (+1.5) at the 100 m
hurdles, her fastest in last three years. It is the best ever for that
age. Second Priscilla Lopes-Schliep in only second race after pregnancy
also impressive 12.64 over Briton Tiffany Porter 12.65. Bianca Knight
won the 200 m in 22.49 (+1.7) beating Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce 22.53 and
Shalonda Solomon 22.82. Last year World university Games winner Hansle
Parchment improved at 110 m hurdles to 13.19 (+1.0) ahead of US Ronnie
Ash 13.20, Antwon Hicks 13.36 and European champion Andy Turner 13.50.
In the 400 m hurdles races Melaine Walker as best woman posted 55.28 and
Bershawn Jackson as top male 48.73 ahead of Trinidad´s Jehue Gordon
48.98. Calvin Smith jr. was a surprise 400 m winner in 45.47 beating
Reny Quow of Trinidad 45.48 and only third Jamaican record holder
Jermaine Gonzales 45.66. In distances to note fast 1500 m by Ethiopian
Aman Wote 3:35.92 beating South African Peter Van Der Westhuizen
3:36.56. US Ben Bruce won the steeple 8:34.17 and Canadian Hillary
Stellingwerf the 1500 m for women 4:12.09. In technical events US wins
for Reese Hoffa in the shot put 20.71 (behind him improvement for Nedzad
Mulabegovic of Croatia to 20.66), world champion Brittney Reese the
long jump (656, -0.6) and Michelle Carter women shot (19.22). Bahamian
wins for Donald Thomas in high jump (227) and Leevan Sands in the triple
(16.33, -0.5). Kimberly Williams produced home women triple win with
14.33 (-0.5) personal best.
L. Merritt 20.16 at the 200 m
ST. MARTIN (FRA, May 5): Olympic winner and 400 m world leader LaShawn
Merritt continued in impressive showing with 20.16 200 m at the
Caribbean meet here. Last year 3rd placer from US Champs Jeneba Tarmoh
posted also fast 22.51 in women 200 m. US Champion Kellie Wells scored
her fastest of the year 12.55 at the 100 m hurdles ahead of Ginnie
Crawford 12.66. Keshia Baker won the 400 m in 51.37. (more to come)
R. Bailey 10.01 in the 100 m
EAGLE ROCK (USA, May 5): At Occidental Invitational sprinter Ryan Bailey
clocked fast 10.01 (+0.7) clearly ahead of Canadian Sam Effah 10.28. It
is the third fastest for Bailey, who was better only twice in Rieti
(heats and finals) in 2010 and missed last year due to injury. World
champion Jason Richardson won the hurdles in 13.30 (-1.0) and old timer
Felix Sanchez was the best in the flat 400 m with 45.34, his fastest
since 2003. Also impressive 680 (+1.5) long jump by Funmi Jimoh. In
other women events good marks for Leslie Cole 51.46 at the 400 m,
Melinda Smedley 11.34 (+0.6) at the 100 m (returning to track at age of
31 after four years break) and in the 800 m 2:01.83 for Brenda Martinez
and 2:02.13 for Alice Schmidt.
OTHER RESULTS
DESENZANO (ITA, May 5): Overnight leaders at Multistars (IAAF CE
Challenge meet) are olympic medalist Dmitry Karpov of Kazakhstan in
decathlon 4253 (ahead of Brazilian Luiz Alberto de Araujo 4227) and
Briton Katarina Johnson Thompson in heptathlon 3662 (also ahead of a
Brazilian Lucimara da Silva 3596). Briton Kelly Sotherton ended her
quest before the 200 m and Margaret Simpson of Ghana was a no-starter.
LISSE (NED, May 5): At Dutch track opening meet (Ter Specke Bokaal) fast
150 m races. Jamile Samuel achieved 17.18 (-1.8) over Dafne Schippers
17.35. Giovanni Codrington as fastest male got 15.57 (-0.3). Joeri
Moerman won the 300 m in 33.28 and Yvonne Hak the 1000 m in 2:41.48.
BARQUISIMETO (VEN, May 5): At Memorial Maximo Viloria Cuban pole
vaulters showed good results. Lazaro Borges cleared 550 and Yarisley
Silva 460 cm.
SALAMANCA (ESP, May 5): New Spanish hammer record during first day of
National University Championships. Javier Cienfuegos gets 76.21 m.
CAKOVEC (CRO, May 5): New hammer records for two countries here. Rosa
Rodriguez 72.83 for Venezuela (second best all-time in South America)
and Barbara Spiler 71.25 for Slovenia.
BURSA (TUR, May 5): First Turkish shot putter over 20 meters. At
throwing championships Huseyin Atici achieved 20.30 m. His previous best
was 19.25 this indoor season.
LONDON (GBR, May 5): During second day of University Champs at new
Olympic Stadium Harry Aikines-Aryetey won the 100 m in 10.42. Montell
Douglas was the best woman in cold weather in 11.81.
LAUSANNE (SUI, May 5): Lea Sprunger clocked 37.38 at the 300 m here, the second fastest ever by a Swiss.
HRADEC KRALOVE (CZE, May 5): Czech 10 000 m track titles for Ivana
Sekyrova 35:12.47 and Milan Kocourek (qualified for Bilbao) 29:33.56.
MARBURG (GER, May 5): Sabrina Mockenhaupt won with 32:24.36 at the 10
000 m her 33rd German title at different distances. Philipp Pflieger was
the best man in 28:45.76.
ROAD
ATTNANG (AUT, May 5): Kenyans dominated at the 28th road mile here. Top
four places for them headed by Bensen Seurei 4:02.46 ahead of Erastus
Chirchir 4:06.86. Best Europeans were Polish runners Mateusz Demczyszak
4:12.22 as fifth ahead of Bartosz Nowicki 4:13.13.
BURGOS (ESP, May 5): Diego Ruiz won the 30th Milla Aranda de Duero in
4:17 ahead of Alvaro Rodriguez also 4:17. Third Francisco Abad 4:19 with
Juan Carlos Higuero fourth 4:19.
