BIRMINGHAM (Sporting Alert) — Olympic silver medallist Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce was beaten by Nigerian Blessing Okagbare in the women’s 200m at the Diamond League meet in Birmingham on Sunday.
Okagbare got off to a very quick start and then held off the Jamaican favourite Fraser-Pryce to win in 22.55. Fraser-Pryce, suffering her first defeat of the season, was second in 22.72, with Ivet Lalova taking third in 23.02.
USA’s Carmelita Jeter, clearly no where close to being at her best, finished last in 23.36. It turns out that she hurt her achilles tendon and needed to see a foot specialist immediately.
Eighteen-year-old Jessica Judd of Great Britain delivered a brilliant final kick to blow past Marilyn Okoro and win the women’s 800m in a personal best time of 1:59.85 to her teammate’s 2:00.76.
The men’s 5000m, which featured Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah, produced a quick 25.8 seconds last 200m and the hometown hero, as expected, out-kicked his Ethiopian rivals to win the ran in 13:14.24.
“I know the younger guys wanted to beat me because at the moment I am the man to beat,” Farah said.
“I am training hard because for me it’s all about the World Championships,” he added.
Ethiopian world-leader Yenew Alamirew was second in 13:14.71, with countryman Hagos Gebrhiwet, who currently lead the event in the Diamond League standings, running in third at 13:17.11.
Even without the high-profiled names, such as Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay, Justin Gatlin and Yohan Blake, the men’s 100m dash still field some quality athletes and it was Jamaican Nesta Carter, who came from behind to run a solid 9.99 seconds for the win.
“I want to thank the fans for the support and I am looking forward to playing my part at the worlds in the relay,” Carter said.
Great Britain’s No.1 James Dasaolu ran his second personal best at the meet with a 10.03 for second after running 10.05 to win his heat earlier. Kim Collins was third in 10.06, just in front of USA’s Mike Rodgers, at 10.07.
Perri Shakes-Drayton of Britain was dominant in the women’s 400m hurdles, producing a seasonal best of 53.82 to take the event and beat fellow British athlete Eilidh Child, who improved her personal best to 54.22.
In the men’s race, Olympic bronze medallist Javier Culson of Puerto Rico raced off and opened up a big lead and then held off the challenges to record a winning time of 48.59. Great Britain’s Rhys Williams was second in 48.93, just ahead of American Olympic silver medal winner Michael Tinsley (48.94).
In the sprint hurdles Dawn Harper-Nelson came away with a victory in the women’s race with a time of 12.64, leading an American 1-2 finish as Kellie Wells took second in 12.67.
Olympic champion Sally Pearson of Australia, returning from a hamstring injury, was fourth in 12.73.
Barbados 2009 world champion Ryan Brathwaite won the men’s 110m hurdles in a wind-aided 13.13, beating Olympic champion and world record holder Aries Merritt of USA who ran 13.22.
Christine Ohuruogu handed Amantle Montsho of Botswana her first defeat of the season after pulling back the reigning world champion with a blistering surge to win in 50.63.
Montsho was second in 50.64, with Jamaican champion Novlene Williams-Mills finishing third in 51.03 and American champ Natasha Hastings, fourth in 51.44.
The winning time, clearly wasn’t the fastest this season, but Ohuruogu isn’t worried about that.
“It’s always great to have the home crowd cheering you on,” the Briton 2008 Olympic champion and London 2012 Games silver medal winner said.
She mentioned: “You don’t want to be completely championship ready too quickly because there are months for you to hold on to that form.”
The battle in the men’s Triple Jump saw American world and Olympic champion Christian Taylor coming out on top with a brilliant fifth round seasonal best jump of 17.66m.
French jumper Teddy Tamgho was second, also with a seasonal best of 17.47m, with third going to his fellow countryman Yoann Rapinier (16.88m).
Olympic champion Sandra Perkovic of Croatia continues to dominate the women’s discus throw this season and the world-leader picked up another victory with a solid 64.32m effort, achieved in the final round. USA champion Gia Lewis-Smallwood was second with 62.46m. Germany’s Anna Ruh did 62.14m for third.
