Jamaicans Star At yet Another Track Meet

OSTRAVA, Czech Republic (AP) — Usain Bolt won a rarely contested 300-metre race in 30.97 seconds in rain at the Golden Spike yesterday.

Bolt, who holds the world records in the 100 and 200, was boosted by a solid start and cruised to an easy victory. But the wet track, marked by puddles, prevented him from challenging the world mark of 30.85 set by Michael Johnson at Pretoria in 2000.

Fellow Jamaican Jermaine Gonzales clocked 32.49 for second, and Jonathan Borlee of Belgium had 32.50 for third.

The IAAF does not recognize the 300 world record as it was not at major events.

Bolt didn’t blame the rain for not setting a new record, and went on to explain that he was not in the sizzling form that he was in last year, and if he was he would have gotten the record.

He didn’t rule out giving the 300 another try to expand his sprint dominance.

But after his first competitive 300, Bolt didn’t look like he was in a rush to race another.

While the rain stopped briefly, Bolt’s countryman Asafa Powell led Jamaica‘s sweep of the 100 in 9.83, the world’s best time this season.

On the way, Powell improved the best world time in the 100 yards to 9.07 seconds.

Powell broke the previous best of 9.21 set by Charlie Greene of the United States in 1967. Organisers of the IAAF world challenge series event took the 100 yards (91.41 metres) split time.

Lerone Clarke was second in 10.18, and Dexter Lee third in 10.20.

The IAAF also doesn’t recognize 100 yards for world records as it was no longer at major events.

Bolt said he was impressed by Powell’s performance, and looked forward to racing him in the 100 at the Diamond League meet in France on July 16, and again at the Van Damme Memorial in August together with Tyson Gay.

Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser, the women’s 100 world and Olympic champion, claimed the women’s 100 in 11.04, with Chandra Sturrup of the Bahamas second in 11.13, and another Jamaican, Sheri-Ann Brooks, third in 11.17.

American Kerron Clement, a two-time 400 hurdles world champion, used a strong finish to win in 48.69, edging Britain‘s David Greene in 49.05 and Jamaican Isa Phillips in 49.16.

Olympic 110 hurdles champ Dayron Robles of Cuba, who set the world record of 12.87 seconds in Ostrava in 2008, crossed in 13.12 in heavy rain, with Petr Svoboda of the Czech Republic second in 13.55, and William Sharman of Britain third in 13.57.

Chaunte Howard Lowe of the United States cleared 1.98 metres to win the women’s high jump. Blanka Vlasic of Croatia, winner at the indoor worlds this year, was third with 1.92.

Yusuf Biwott of Kenya clocked 7:31.68, the world’s best time this season, to take the men’s 3,000. Petr Frydrych of the Czech Republic delighted the 22,000 spectators in the sold-out stadium by winning the men’s javelin with a season-best throw of 88.23 metres, his personal best.

Meselech Melkamu of Ethiopia overtook Pauline Korikwiang of Kenya on the final lap to win the women’s 10,000 in the season-best time of 31:04.52.