Jamaica’s Kerron Stewart yesterday ran out of contention for the US$1m jackpot in the AF Golden League series meet in Zurich, Switzerland on August 28, leaving three contenders -- 3000m/5000m runner Kenenisa Bekele (Eth), World 400m champion Sanya Richards (USA) and Pole Vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva (Rus) -- to continue the hunt.*
Stewart, the silver medalist at the recently concluded World Championships in Berlin, was beaten into second place by bronze medalist Carmelita Jeter of the US, who clocked 10.86 secs to Stewart’s 11.04. Trailing Jeter and Stewart were Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie (Bah), 11.04; Shelly-Ann Fraser (Jam), 11.10; Chandra Sturrup (Bah), 11.13; Lauryn Williams (US), 11.27; Kelly-Ann Baptiste (Trin), 11.27; Aleen Bailey (Jam), 11.32; and Verena Sailer (Ger), 11.45.
It was a different story, however, for Richards who continues her season in peak form. She ran 48.94 to beat compatriot Allyson Felix (49.83). Worlds silver medalist Shericka Williams (Jam) was third in 50.40, Christine Ohuruogu (GBr) 4th in 50.41, Novlene Williams-Mills 5th in 50.69, Nicola Sanders (GBr) 6th in 51.02, Antonina Krivoshapka (Rus) in 51.10, and Amantle Montsho (Bot) in 51.99.
It was sweet redemption for Isinbayeva who crashed out of the World Championships with three failed attempts despite her favorite-to-win status. Yesterday she bounced back from losing her world title to break her own world record with a vault of 5.06 meters (16’-7¼”). In Beijing a year ago, Isinbayeva, who has broken the world outdoor and indoor marks 27 times, cleared 16’-6 ¾” to take her second Olympic gold medal.
JAMAICA WELCOMES 8th SUB-10 MAN
Despite Stewart’s exit, the Caribbean has much success to crow about. While a tired Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell registered 9.81 and 9.88, respectively to take the 100m ‘A’ race, Jamaica’s Lerone Clarke became the 8th Jamaican to run under 10 secs by posting 9.99 to win a top-class 'B' race, which included Steve Mullings (Jam), 2009 Worlds 200m bronze medalist Wallace Spearmon (US) and Emmanuel Callender (Trin).
Clarke has now joined the exclusive Sub-10 Club that consists of Donald Quarrie, Raymond Stewart, Asafa Powell, Usain Bolt, Michael Frater, Nesta Carter and Yohan Blake, and has signal to the world that he might become a force to be reckoned.
The 28-yr-old teamed up later that day with Michael Frater, Mullings and Bolt (in that order) to secure a 4x1 victory in 37.70 secs, thanks to Bolt had to overhaul Spearmon of the U.S due to an early deficit when Clarke was left in the block. The Americans were 2nd 37.73.
Dwight Thomas, a World Championships sprint relay gold medalist, clocked 13.16 seconds (+0.2 m/s w) to become the fastest Jamaican sprint hurdler. He lowered Maurice Wignall's national record of 13.17. Thomas, who only recently returned to hurdling and reached the finals in Berlin, recovered from a poor start to beat a quality field that included American Worlds silver medalist Terrence Trammell (13.17) new World Champion Ryan Brathwaite of Barbados (13.27), and American Worlds bronze medalist David Payne (13.32).
In the women’s edition, 2009 Worlds 100m hurdles champion Brigitte Foster-Hylton showed her championships victory was no fluke when she won in 12.46 secs, 0.01 off her career best and national record of 12.45 secs set in 2003.
Callender ran his personal best of 10.05 secs to place second in the 100m B race. Callender was a member of T&T’s 4x1 silver medalist team in Beijing and Berlin.
Renny Quow (T&T) was third in the 400m in 44.77 secs behind the USA duo of LaShawn Merritt (44.21) and Jeremy Wariner (44.62). Bahamas’s Chris Brown finished in 6th place in 45.37sec.
Cuba’s Arnie David Girat (17.31m) and Bahamas’s Leevan Sands (17.10m) finished second and third, respectively in the Triple Jump, behind the winner, Portugal’s Nelson Evora (17.38m)
-Desmond Palmer
*NOTE: Successful claimants of the prize money must win their event at all six meetings of the AF Golden League. Applicable jackpot events are 100m, 400m, 3000m/5000m, 110m hurdles, javelin throw for men and 100m, 400m, 100m hurdles, high jump, pole vault for women. The meets are held in six European cities, the next and final of which is set for Friday, September 4 in Brussels, Belgium.
If no athlete wins his or her event at all six meetings, then anyone with five victories will share half the original prize of $500,000. To be eligible for their share of the Jackpot, all winners must also compete at the IAAF World Athletics Final.