by RBR Admin
LaShawn Merritt, photo by PhotoRun.net
Merritt improves to 19.78, five other World leads
NASSAU (BAH, Apr 16): Six World leading marks highlighted the 2nd edition of Chris Brown Bahamas Invitational meet at the Ted Robinson National Stadium. Most impressive improvement for 400 m World champion and Olympic winner LaShawn Merritt in the 200 m to 19.78 (+0.9). He destroyed the field as Wallace Spearmon and Mike Rodgers as 2nd and third clocked 20.40 and 20.42. Grenada´s Olympic winner Kirani James opened with 44.36 World lead over 400 m also as clear winner. Second Tony McQuay more than a second behind 45.34 and Jeremy Wariner 45.55. Johnny Dutch posted another WL in the 400 m hurdles 48.36 with Javier Culson 49.12 and home star Jeffery Gibson 49.16 distant 2nd and 3rd. Christian Taylor opened the year with 17.11 World lead in triple one cm ahead of Troy Doris who got national record for his new country Guayana 17.10. On the women side two world leads. Tori Bowie 22.26 (+0.3) in the 200 m ahead of 400 m specialist Natasha Hastings 22.57 PB. Shaunae Miller made the crowds happy with home 400 m in season´s fastest 49.69 (missed her PB by only 0.02 from Beijing Worlds) with sensation Quanera Hayes improving to 49.91 (previous best 50.84). Two other fast times could not be world leads due to wind. Justin Gatlin 9.90 (+2.3) in the 100 m over Asian record holder Femi Ogunode of Qatar 9.94 and home Adrian Griffith 10.03. 2013 World champion David Oliver clocked 13.30 (+2.7) ahead of Aleec Harris 13.32 and Jason Richardson 13.33. Queen Harrison won the 100 m hurdles in 12.64 (+2.6) over Sharika Nelvis 12.66 and Jasmin Stowers 12.74. Close 100 m was won by Trinidad´s Michelle Lee-Ahye 11.14 (+1.4) ahead of Murielle Ahoure 11.16, Veronica Campbell-Brown 11.17 and Candyce McGrone 11.18. Home wins in remaining jumping events. Donald Thomas 223 in high jump and Bianca Stuart 669 (+3.6) in long jump.
