Sunday, July 18, 2010

Prerace Jitters

Oliver powers through to new American record

Posted: 17 Jul 2010 06:18 PM PDT

INDIANAPOLIS - 2010 USA Outdoors champion David Oliver set the American record in the men’s 110m hurdles Friday night in Paris at the Samsung IAAF Diamond League Meeting Areva.

With his long and strong strides, Oliver made a quick start to lead the race in its entirety and finish in an American record time of 12.89 seconds. It was just two weeks ago at the Nike Prefontaine Classic when Oliver equaled the American record of 12.90 seconds, first posted by Dominique Arnold in 2006.

Oliver’s sizzling 12.89 was two-hundredths of a second off the two-year-old world record of 12.87, set by Dayron Robles (CUB) in Ostrava. Robles, who was originally set to compete in Paris, was sidelined for hamstring injury prevention measures.

Also bringing sparkle to the track, Jeremy Wariner made it four-for-four in Samsung Diamond League 400m races this season when he clocked a world-leading time of 44.49 seconds. The three-time World Outdoor medalist has returned strong from his knee surgery last September to run two world leading times, first at last week’s Lausanne (44.57) and then again tonight in Paris. Also in the men’s 400m, national champion Greg Nixon finished sixth in 45.81 seconds and David Neville finished 8th in 45.83 seconds.

Rivalries tested on the track and in the field

The world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt found the win in the men’s 100m dash over fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell in a time of 9.84 seconds. Powell was the runner-up in 9.91. Bolt’s meet record win was Powell’s second defeat of the season after losing to American Tyson Gay in Gateshead last Saturday.

Continuing their back-and-forth battle, rivals Croatian Blanka Vlasic and American record holder Chaunte Lowe squared-off for the sixth time this season with Vlasic finding the win and setting a meeting record at 2.02m/6-7.5. Vlasic cleared 2.02m/6-7.5 on her first attempt while Lowe failed at all three attempts to make a clearance.

Also at the track, national champion Brittney Reese sealed her victory in the women’s long jump competition in her last round jump of 6.79m/22-3.5. This performance propels Reese into the top spot of the Samsung Diamond League. Also in the field, Funmi Jimoh finished seventh with a jump of 6.56m/21-6.25 and Brianna Glenn finished tenth at 6.38m/20-11.25.

Filling out a deep field in the women’s 1,500m, seven women brought sub-four minute career bests to the line. Crossing the line first, Russia’s Anna Alminova clocked a world-leading time of 3:57.65. On her heels, USA Outdoors fourth-place finisher Christin Wurth-Thomas ran a new personal best at 3:59.59 to take second. Shannon Rowbury, won bronze at the 2009 World Outdoor Championships, finished in a season’s best 4:01.30.

Americans Allyson Felix (22.14) and Shalonda Solomon (22.55) finished one and two in the women’s 200m race. Also rounding up the field were Bianca Knight finishing sixth in 22.83 and Porscha Lucas finishing seventh in 22.85.