BIRMINGHAM, England, CMC – Jamaicans Nickel Ashmeade, Rosemarie Whyte and Kaliese Spencer took victories but compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce played second fiddle again to American Carmelita Jeter at the Birmingham Grand Prix here yesterday.
The 22-year-old Ashmeade, a former double CARIFTA sprint champion, clocked 20.12 seconds to capture the 200 metres at Alexander Stadium. He finished ahead of American Tyson Gay (20.21) with another American Wallace Spearmon trailing in third in 20.23 seconds. Mario Forsythe of Jamaica was last in 20.80. Spencer, meanwhile, found herself in winners row for the second time in four days when she again captured the women’s 400 metres hurdles.
She crossed the line in a new meet record 53.78 seconds, getting home ahead of hometown favourite Perri Shakes-Drayton who was timed at 54.08. Spencer, who finished fourth at the London Olympics, had a slight scare when she was disqualified bringing her leg around a hurdle. Her appeal was upheld, however.
Whyte, last in the Olympic final, took her first ever Diamond League win with a time of 50.20 seconds, a season-best run.
She beat Olympic silver medallist Christine Ohuruogu of Great Britain into second.
Fraser-Pryce, who repeated as 100m champion in London, trailed home Jeter for the second time in four days following her defeat in Lausanne on Thursday.
She clocked 10.90 seconds but was no match for Jeter who set a new meet record with a time of 10.81 seconds.
Jeter was second behind Fraser-Pryce at the London Olympics.
There was disappointment for Olympic bronze medallist in the men’s sprint hurdles as he finished last in the event won by Olympic champion Aries Merritt of the United States.
Parchment was well below his best, clocking 13.76 while Merritt got home in a new meet record of 12.95.
Former World champion Ryan Brathwaite of Barbados finished fifth in 13.42 seconds.
Jamaican Kimberly Williams picked up second in the women’s triple jump, measuring 14.37 metres as Ukraine’s Olha Saladukha edged to victory with a leap of 14.40.
