One week after coming from behind to take the 100m in 9.90secs at the New York Diamond League stop, Jamaica’s reigning 100m World champion Yohan Blake won the 100m title in 10.05secs (0.0w) at the Donovan Bailey Invitational in Edmonton, Canada yesterday, June 16. He defeated American Trell Kimmons (10.11) with another Jamaican, Lerone Clarke, third in 10.13 and Norway's Jaysuma Saidy Ndure fourth in 10.15.
The 22-yr-old Blake now heads to his country’s national Olympic trials at the end of the month, where he is expected to contest the sprint double. He will go up against the reigning Olympic 100m and 200m champion and world record-holder Usain Bolt, as well as Asafa Powell and a number of other Jamaican sprinters who will all be jostling for the three 100m places on the team to the London Olympics in August.
Blake’s countrywoman Sheri-Ann Brooks swept the women's sprints, winning the 100m in 11.05 (+1.3w) shortly after taking the 200m in a wind-aided 22.92.
World champion hurdler Jason Richardson of the U.S. continued his excellent form for next week's American Olympic trials by claiming the men's 110m hurdles in 13.16secs.
Canadian Olympic bronze medalist Priscilla Lopes-Schliep defeated a strong field to win the women's race in 12.76. Her compatriot and top shot putter in Canada, world silver medalist Dylan Armstrong, had the day's top three throws, including a winning 21.02 meters as he defeated American world indoor champion Ryan Whiting, who threw 20.71.