Jamaica’s Nesta Carter (left) is on his way to win the men’s 100m final during the Diamond League meeting at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham yesterday. Jamaica’s Kimmari Roach is on his left. (EPA)
AFP/Birmingham
Jamaica’s Nesta Carter clocked 9.99 seconds to win the 100m at the Birmingham Diamond League in the United Kingdom yesterday. James Dasoulu of the UK finished second in 10.05 with the veteran Kim Collins clocking 10.06 for third.
Britain’s Mo Farah proved he was still the man to beat heading into the World Championships with a 5,000m win over a high-class field at the meeting.
Farah, who won gold medals in both the 5,000m and 10,000m at last year’s London Olympics, saw off the Ethiopian duo of Yenew Alamirew and Hagos Gebrhiwet—the world’s two fastest men over the shorter distance—in a last lap sprint that saw him win in a time of 13 minutes 14.71 seconds.
It was an encouraging display by Farah ahead of the World Championships in Moscow in August and afterwards the 30-year-old told the BBC: “The young guys wanted to beat me, I’m the guy to beat.
“I had to dig deep. The pace was slow and the conditions weren’t great - it was very windy. Ultimately you’ve got to get the job done and to win the race.
“(The other runners) were working as a team. But you’ve got hold your form and make sure you’ve got something else left. It’s all about the World Championships. I’m just going to keep training hard,” Farah added.
Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare upset favourites Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Carmelita Jeter to win the 200m.
The race had been billed as a clash between Jamaica’s Olympic 100 winner Fraser-Pryce and world sprint champion Jeter of the US but Okagbare finished strongly to win in 22.55.
Fraser-Pryce, who plans to run the 100 and 200 at August’s world championships in Moscow, was second in 22.72 with Jeter, competing for first time since suffering a hamstring injury in Shanghai in May, finishing last in 23.36. Jeter declined to talk to waiting reporters but training partner Okagbare did not think the American’s performance was a cause for concern.
“She’s fine. You saw her run today so you can tell for yourself,” the Nigerian told reporters. “It’s good she’s come back.
“I’m not a good starter so I have more of an advantage on the 200,” added Okagbare, who has yet to decide whether she will attempt a sprint double in Moscow.
“With the upcoming world championships, the goal is to stay healthy.”
Britain’s James Dasaolu recorded a personal best of 10.03 for second and the ever-green Kim Collins, world champion in 2003, was third (10.06).
Meanwhile World 100m champion Yohan Blake has not been ruled out of defending his title in Moscow in August because of injury, his manager Cubie Seegobin said yesterday, knocking down media reports that the Jamaican was to undergo surgery. “There is absolutely no discussions or plans for any surgery and I don’t know where that information is coming from,” an upset Seegobin told Reuters by telephone from Edmonton, Canada.
“No decision has been made about Yohan missing the world championships,” he added.
“The coach has not yet decided on pulling him from the world championships.”
