Gay triumphs but Semenya beaten
Source: Agencies |
August 29, 2010, Sunday
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WORLD 800 meters champion Caster Semenya finished third on her Diamond League debut in Brussels on Friday after a troubled season and in-form sprinter Tyson Gay notched up another win.
Gay, who had been due to face world-record holder Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell over the 100 meters only for the Jamaican pair to pull out injured, was made to work for his victory.
The American did not get the best start but delighted the sellout crowd by coming through late to beat Nesta Carter of Jamaica in 9.79 seconds, 0.01 outside his world-leading time set in London two weeks ago.
Former world champion Gay, who inflicted a first 100 final defeat on Bolt in two years in Stockholm earlier this month and also defeated Powell this season, won the Diamond League trophy for the event.
"I'm not disappointed," Gay told reporters when asked about being denied the chance of going head-to-head with both his rivals.
"I'm a guy who wants to see my competitors healthy. I wish them the best of luck," added the 28-year-old who has himself been troubled by a groin problem this year.
South African Semenya, who was cleared to compete again last month after controversial gender tests had put her career on hold since she won the world title in August 2009, ran her best time of the season with one minute 59.65 seconds for third behind Kenya's Janeth Jepkosgei.
It was only the fourth race of the year, and first defeat, for the 19-year-old who was selected for South Africa's squad on Wednesday for the Commonwealth Games in October, and she appeared to take a cautious approach, spending the first lap at the back.
Semenya, running wide, moved up the field in the final 200 but could not match the speed of former world champion Jepkosgei and European gold medalist Mariya Savinova, who was second.
"She ran a little bit faster than in Berlin (1:59.90) and it was a very competitive race," Semenya's coach Michael Seme said. "If everything is going well, Caster will compete at the Commonwealth Games."
Kenyan David Rudisha followed up his world record in Berlin five days ago with a victory over Abubaker Kaki Khamis in the men's 800 to take the Diamond League title.
Rudisha's winning time of 1:43.50 was more than two seconds slower than his world-record 1:41.09.
American Allyson Felix added the 200 Diamond League title to the 400 she won in Zurich last week, winning in 22.61 seconds.
World and European champion Blanka Vlasic maintained her domination of the high jump, clearing two meters to end her Diamond League season unbeaten.
In the women's 100 hurdles, LoLo Jones continued her recent slump and lost the diamond trophy to Priscilla Lopes-Schliep in the last race. The Canadian dominated from the start and set a time of 12.54 seconds, leaving Jones in fifth place with 12.78.
Gay, who had been due to face world-record holder Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell over the 100 meters only for the Jamaican pair to pull out injured, was made to work for his victory.
The American did not get the best start but delighted the sellout crowd by coming through late to beat Nesta Carter of Jamaica in 9.79 seconds, 0.01 outside his world-leading time set in London two weeks ago.
Former world champion Gay, who inflicted a first 100 final defeat on Bolt in two years in Stockholm earlier this month and also defeated Powell this season, won the Diamond League trophy for the event.
"I'm not disappointed," Gay told reporters when asked about being denied the chance of going head-to-head with both his rivals.
"I'm a guy who wants to see my competitors healthy. I wish them the best of luck," added the 28-year-old who has himself been troubled by a groin problem this year.
South African Semenya, who was cleared to compete again last month after controversial gender tests had put her career on hold since she won the world title in August 2009, ran her best time of the season with one minute 59.65 seconds for third behind Kenya's Janeth Jepkosgei.
It was only the fourth race of the year, and first defeat, for the 19-year-old who was selected for South Africa's squad on Wednesday for the Commonwealth Games in October, and she appeared to take a cautious approach, spending the first lap at the back.
Semenya, running wide, moved up the field in the final 200 but could not match the speed of former world champion Jepkosgei and European gold medalist Mariya Savinova, who was second.
"She ran a little bit faster than in Berlin (1:59.90) and it was a very competitive race," Semenya's coach Michael Seme said. "If everything is going well, Caster will compete at the Commonwealth Games."
Kenyan David Rudisha followed up his world record in Berlin five days ago with a victory over Abubaker Kaki Khamis in the men's 800 to take the Diamond League title.
Rudisha's winning time of 1:43.50 was more than two seconds slower than his world-record 1:41.09.
American Allyson Felix added the 200 Diamond League title to the 400 she won in Zurich last week, winning in 22.61 seconds.
World and European champion Blanka Vlasic maintained her domination of the high jump, clearing two meters to end her Diamond League season unbeaten.
In the women's 100 hurdles, LoLo Jones continued her recent slump and lost the diamond trophy to Priscilla Lopes-Schliep in the last race. The Canadian dominated from the start and set a time of 12.54 seconds, leaving Jones in fifth place with 12.78.
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