OSLO, Norway (Sporting Alert) — Usain Bolt had to do some chasing tonight, but he did so successfully in catching Asafa Powell at the ExxonMobil Bislett Games – IAAF Diamond League meeting in Oslo on Thursday.
The World record holder and double Olympic champion, who set a world-leading 9.76 seconds time when bettering Powell in Rome, last week, ran 9.79secs for first place in the men’s 100m, which is also a meet record.
The time is the second fastest this year.
His fellow Jamaican countryman Powell made him work this time though, and the former world record holder was rewarded with a seasonal best of 9.85.
Australia’s Sally Pearson ran away from the pack early and then held on to win the women’s 100m hurdles in time of 12.49 seconds, which matched her own world-leading mark.
Pearson said: “I travelled 29 hours to get here so I’m a bit jet-lagged but doing well.
“I’ve put myself in the position I want to be in. I like being chased. It keeps me on my toes.”
The world champion shot from the blocks and then moved away from the field to beat USA’s Kristi Castlin, who ran a personal best of 12.56 and Briton’s Tiffany Porter (12.70).
Great Britain’s Jessica Ennis false-started and was disqualified.
Javier Culson continued his fine form this season with another brilliant run to improve his world-leading time and win the men’s 400m hurdles.
The Daegu world silver medallist from Puerto Rico, last summer, clocked 47.92 secs, to beat a solid field on his way to owning the top three fastest times this season.
Culson, on his route to victory, defeated Jehue Gordon of Trinidad and Tobago, who ran a seasonal best of 48.78, with American Justin Gaymon, also running a season’s best of 48.97 for third. Briton’s world champion David Greene was fourth in 48.98.
World champion Amantle Montsho from Botswana rebounded from her defeat to Sanya Richards-Ross in Eugene, on Saturday with a 49.68 performance to win the women’s 400m dash ahead of Jamaica’s Patricia Hall, who ran a personal best of 50.71 for second place.
Back-to-back world bronze medallist Milcah Chemos of Kenya led three fast times in the women’s 3000 metres Steeplechase.
The former African champion improved her own world-leading time, as well as setting a new personal best, meeting and area record when winning in a blistering time of 9:07.14.
Finishing second was Sofia Assefa, who ran a new Ethiopia national record (9:09.00) with teammate Hiwot Ayalew taking third in a personal best of 9:09.61.
Murielle Ahoure set an Ivory Coast national record of 22.42 secs to win the women’s 200m.
Meanwhile, Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia keeps chipping away at his 5000m time this season, following his 13:00.54 performance tonight.
The world record holder, who coming back from a series of injuries was only fifth, but bettered the 13:01.48 he ran in Eugene, on Saturday.
His fellow countryman, Dejen Gebremeskel won the race in 12:58.92, Hagos Gebrhiwet was second a new personal best of 12:58.99.
In the field, Lyukman Adams of Russia produced a 17.09m effort in the third round to take the men’s triple jump crown and edged American world leader and world champion Christian Taylor (17.06), while USA’s Chaunte Lowe won the women’s High Jump with a clearance of 1.97m and Renaud Lavillenie of France took the Pole Vault, easily with a clearance of 5.82m.
Vítezslav Veselý did a world-leading throw of 88.11m to win the men’s Javelin Throw.
