By Gary Smith
Caribbean Net News Sports Correspondent
Email: gary@caribbeannetnews.com
SHEFFIELD, UK: Jamaica's emerging distance runners Korine Hinds and training partner Mardrea Hyman raced together to finish 1-2 in the women’s 3000m Steeplechase at the Norwich Union British Grand Prix, which took place in a soaked Don Valley Stadium on Sunday.
Hinds, the sixth best performer in the event this season behind Russia’s Gulnara Samitova-Galkina, got home first in the event in 9:34.83, some way off her year best of 9:28.86, but with the conditions at hand, she was pleased to have gotten the win.
Hyman made it a Caribbean quenelle by finishing just short of her year's best of 9:37.50. The Jamaican posted 9:37.70 to finish ahead of Great Britain’s Hatti Dean, at 9:38.56, her time was also a national record.
Bolt caught again by Spearmon
After getting off to a fast start, world junior 200m record holder Usain Bolt was caught once again by American World silver medallist Wallace Spearmon, this time just on the finish line.
Bolt defeated Spearmon in Lausanne last Tuesday and seemed to have gotten his finishing tactic all together. However, the 20-year-old sprinter was unable to keep his stamina on the wet track and was out dipped at the end by the American, as both runners clocked 20.08.
Campbell also caught going home
Jamaica’s Olympic champion Veronica Campbell was beaten by her American compatriots Allyson Felix and Caribbean-born Sanya Richards in the women’s race.
On the wet, splashing track in Sheffield, Campbell got out powerfully; however, just as Bolt did, the Jamaican sprint double champion was unable to keep up with the early pace and faded to third place.
In the end, Felix, who will be defending her world title in Osaka, next month, came through to take the crown in 22.35 over Richards, 22.44 and Campbell, 22.60.
Cayman Islands’ Cydonie Mothersill clocked 23.27 to take fifth place.
Third for Ennis-London in the rain
The women's 100m Hurdles saw Jamaica’s Delloreen Ennis-London of Jamaica finishing third behind a dominant Michelle Perry.
Perry showed again that she is on track to defend her world title with another world champion run to take the win in 12.79 over countrywoman Lolo Jones 13.89.
Ennis-London posted a time of 13.04 in the (-0.2m/s) head to take third in front of American Nichole Denby (13.20) and Sweden’s Olympic Heptathlon champion Carolina Kluft (13.31).
On the men’s side, Cuba’s Dayron Robles clocked 13.37 for fourth place behind Olympic and world record holder Xiang Liu of China who got his revenge against the Cuban in 13.24.
In other results, Dwight Thomas of Jamaica clocked 10.42 for sixth in the men’s 100m, won by American Tyson Gay in 10.13, Thomas’ countrywoman Shevon Stddart (56.77) was sixth in the 400m Hurdles, while Sanjay Ayre 45.95 and Ato Modibo (47.33) of Trinidad took fourth and sixth respectively in the 400m dash. |
