Jamaica's veronica Campbell-Brown waves after winning the Women's 100 meters at the Diamond League Athletics meeting on Sunday May 15. in Shanghai, China. American Lashinda Demus. the meet's record holder, finished runner up in a season's best time of 54.58 seconds, with Olympic and World champion Melaine Walker of Jamaica coming third, also in an SB 54.96. The best of the other Caribbean performances came from Jamaican Dwight Thomas. He also finished fourth in the men's 110 hurdles, clocking a season's best 13.31.
Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, believes that newly crowned World 100m champion and the second-fastest man over 200m, Yohan Blake, is a source of inspiration for Jamaica's youth and encouraged the 21-yearold to remain humble and respectful. "I have a soft spot for Yohan and have always felt that he is a special athlete, having followed his career since he was a student at St Jago," Grange said. "So when Usain false started, I was confident that he would rise to the occasion and win. When Everyone was shocked about the false start, I was focused on Jamaica winning because I knew Yohan would make it happen."
Alando Terrelonge, the lawyer representing embattled national sprinter Steve Mullinge, says in light of last weeks ruling by members of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) disciplinary panel not to accept into evidence an affidavit by Mullings, it is very likely that the case could be taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). According to Terrelonge, who along with Patrick Bailey are representing Mullings, they are looking at taking the case to CAS. They will base their argument on an unfair hearing, as Mullings in the affidavit explained to the panel that he could not attend the hearing due to the fact that he is being 'set up', and he is 'fearful for his life'.
Following his two successes in the 200 metres, Olympic and World champion Bolt is leading in this event with 12 points and is followed by the United States' Walter Dix in second on eight points with Norway's Jaysuma Saida in third with five points. The United Sates' Lashina Demus is third with six points, two more than Jamaican Melaine Walker who is fourth on four points. Kenia Sinclair has been having a wonderful season so far in the Women's 800 metres and following her easy victory over the past weekend at the Stockholm meet, she is the leader here with eight points and is followed by South African Caster Semenya on seven points and Morocco's Halima Hachlaf on six.
Coach Glen Mills is predicting 'fireworks' from his 21-year-old charge, Yohan Blake, at the upcoming World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, following the athlete's close second to former world record holder Asafa Powell in the men's 100 metres at the recently concluded Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association/Supreme Ventures National Senior Championships. "Yohan was not healthy at the meet, and come World Championships we will see the best from Yohan as I expect a lot of fireworks from him," said Mills, whose athlete clocked 10.09 seconds. Powell won in 10.08.
Jamaicas sprinter Steve Mullings winning the men's 100 metres in a personal best 9.80 seconds ahead of American Michael Rodgers during the Prefontaine Classic track and field meet yesterday in Eugene, Oregon. Rodgers was second in 9.85 Mullings said the two wins were a timely boost of confidence ahead of next month's World Championships in Daegu, South 'Korea.
American Carmelita Jeter winning the women's 100 metres final in 1 0.93 seconds at the Samsung Diamond League meet at Crystal Palace Stadium in London, yesterday. Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce right) was third in 11. 10 seconds. Trinidad and Tobago's Kelly-Ann Baptiste was second in 1 0.97 while Jamaicans Schillonie Calvert (11.23) and Aleen Bailey (11.36) were fourth and seventh respectively.
"I don't know, Tve been having a bad season and coming back late from stress fracture so I'm just grateful to be here in the first place," Phillips said. "I'm just going through with faith and wherever that leaves me, then so be it." "I'm just grateful to be running ... I don't care about that controversy, that's their business, I pay attention to my business," Phillips stated.
"The coaches have assured me that all our elite athletes are in great shape, fit and ready to perform," MVP's president, Bruce James, disclosed while speaking at the press conference to launch the meet last week at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston. "However, the meet is on April 16 and the athletes will only come out to perform if they are fit and healthy to do so," ne hastened to add. "The challenge is that last year at the [UTech] classic she was not feeling well, but decided to take a chance and in so doing she ran and hurt herself badly and was unable to run for the rest of 2010," James explained, while pointing out that the MVP athletes are not all likely to participate in their customary events.
"I decided to change citizenship and jump for Jamaica, as I just felt like I needed a change," [Nicholas Thomas] explained. "I am in good shape but the weather messed me up - the rain and the wind. So it set the standards down a little bit." Thomas said after the event. "But it was good competition and I enjoyed it and, hopefully, I can go further in the next couple of weeks." "I am yet to burst on the senior level properly, but I have had a lot of injuries ... over the last four or five years." Thomas explained.
