ZURICH, (Reuters) – Jeremy Wariner produced a world leading time to win the 400 metres at the Weltklasse Diamond League meeting yesterday and fellow American David Oliver maintained his unbeaten record this season in the 110 hurdles.
Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell-Brown sneaked the women’s 100, holding off a late challenge from Carmelita Jeter, while American Allyson Felix followed her 200/400 double win in London last weekend with a comfortable win in the 400.
Wariner, who has been troubled by injury this season, won in 44.13 seconds ahead of Jamaica’s Jermaine Gonzales, who had been the fastest man this year over the distance with 44.40.
Gonzales made a flying start and was leading coming off the bend but Wariner produced a burst of pace in the final straight for his sixth Diamond League win of the season in the event.
“I felt a lot better than in London, the whole race,” said Wariner, who also beat Gonzales at Crystal Palace.
“I would describe my season as improving with every race. I started late because of my health situation, next year I should be even better,” added the 26-year-old who has won three Olympic golds and five world championship titles during his career.
Oliver led from the start as he won in 12.93 seconds, six hundredths of a second outside Dayron Robles’ world record. The American fell over as he crossed the line and thumped the ground in frustration when he saw his time.
“I cannot ask for more,” said the fast-talking athlete.
“I know I’m not the perfect hurdler, I’m still making mistakes, that is why I’m missing the world record, but I will fix that mistake, if not this year then next year.”
Tyson Gay helped the U.S. win the men’s 4 x 100 metres relay in a world leading time of 37.45 seconds.
Campbell-Brown and Jeter both recorded times of 10.89 seconds in the women’s 100 with the Jamaican edging out the American in a thrilling photo-finish.
“I knew I executed well, my shoulder was a little bit in front so I had the feeling just after the line that I could be the winner,” said the Olympic champion in the 200 metres.
It was the second successive defeat for Jeter, who narrowly lost to fellow American Marshevet Myers in London last weekend.
Felix had no trouble winning the women’s 400 in 50.37, 0.20 seconds ahead of fellow American Debbie Dunn.
World champion Brittney Reese won the women’s long jump with a leap of 6.89 metres on her first attempt but admitted it had been a difficult season.
“This was an off-season,” she said. “I expected the seven metres mark but I couldn’t make it. I still have a lot of work to do technically.”
Wallace Spearmon took advantage of the absence of the injured Usain Bolt and Walter Dix to win the men’s 200 in 19.79 seconds, edging past Jamaica’s Yohan Blake at the end.
Kenya’s world and former Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi won the 3,000 steeplechase while Tariku Bekele of Ethiopia claimed the 5,000 metres with Mo Farah, Britain’s double European champion, trailing back in fifth place.
