By Gary Smith
Caribbean Net News Sports Correspondent
Email: gary@caribbeannetnews.com

PARIS, France: Bahamas’ new world-class sprinter Derrick Atkins continued his impressive form this season with another sparkling performance to win the men’s 100-metre dash at the Meeting Gaz de France Paris Saint-Denis in Paris, France on Friday, July 6.

Atkins dominant again

In the absence of Asafa Powell, who pulled from the meet with a groin injury, Atkins once again cemented his name to the list of strong candidates in line to challenge for the gold medal at the World Championships in Osaka, Japan, next month by taking the dash in Paris against another top field with a time of 10.00 second in a -0.1 m/s headwind.

Despite getting out to a slow start, the Bahamian ran confidently throughout – catching the field at the 70m mark before pulling away from them.

American Mark Jelks was second in 10.09, with fellow American and Olympic 200m champion Shawn Crawford coming up for third in 10.13. Jamaica’s Clement Campbell was just with him in the same time.

The other Caribbean runners in the event were Churandy Martina with a 10.14 fourth place finish, Jamaica sprinter, Steve Mullings, who fell from his blocks came back well for seventh in 10.26, while 2005 world silver medallist Michael Frater struggled home last in 10.29.

Robles the victor with the slightest of margins

In the build up to the meeting on Friday, Cuban young prodigy Dayron Robles won two races this week and was in hot form.

He entered the Stade with a third win on his mind and that he did, however, by only the slimmest of margins, in one of the closest races of the season.

The world indoor silver medallist got out well on the second send off, this after his false start on the opener, to edge American Anwar Moore, who saw his Golden League chances go out the door in the saddest way.

Robles and Moore got to the line together in 13.13, but after a look back at the photo finish the judges awarded the race to the Cuban, much to the disappointment of the American who was sure he had done enough.

Liu finished the event just behind the two in 13.15, with America Ryan Wilson Ryan taking fourth in 13.17.

Richards get sweet revenge

Jamaican-born American Sanya Richards got sweet revenge against her fellow countrywomen who knocked her off the national 400m team for the World Championships.

Richards kept her hunt alive in the race for the IAAF $1 Million Dollar Jackpot prize by winning her specialty on Friday.

Going out hard from the get go, the world silver medalist took the race to her competitors and won in a world-leading 49.52.

Jamaican champion Novlene Williams posted 50.29 for second place with American Natasha Hastings taking third in 50.45. Shericka Williams of Jamaica was seventh in 51.63.

No luck here for the men

In the men’s race, Jamaican national champion Sanjay Ayre and Grenadian star Alleyne Francique struggled to the finish line as American 21-year-old LaShawn Merritt took the race in 44.62.

Ayre clocked 46.06 for fifth and Francique (46.65) struggled home in ninth place.

And the rest reads...

In other results, Jamaican Melaine Walker posted 55.32 to take third in the women’s 400m Hurdles behind Russia’s Yevgeniya Isakova and 2003 world champion Jana Pittman-Rawlinson of Australia.

In the fast obstacle event, world silver medallist Delloreen Ennis-London was unable to match world champion Michele Perry of USA.

Ennis-London clocked 13.32 for eight place, with Perry winning the race in 12.56.  Another Jamaican Vonette Dixon (12.91) was sixth.