Damu Cherry on her way to victory in Lucerne (© HP Roos)
Fort de FranceTwo World leading performances were set at the traditional Meeting du Conseil General de la Martinique held yesterday in Fort de France.
The 2005 World silver medallist, Lashinda Demus of the US who is improving with every race at 400m Hurdles after giving birth to twin boys in June 2007, became the first athlete to break 54 seconds in this Olympic year as she clocked 53.99 to win the women’s 400m hurdles by more than 2 tenths.
In second, 26-year-old American Christine Spence improved to 54.21 (from her 55.45PB) edging Jamaica‘s Shevon Stoddart (54.71) and 2007 US champion Tiffany Ross-Williams (55.24).
30-year-old Damu Cherry (USA) improved her own World lead (12.70) to a great 12.47 (+1.3) at 100m Hurdles. It is her second fastest ever after her 12.44 PB from Lausanne 2006.
World Championships bronze medallist Deloreen Ennis-London of Jamaica came close to her best (12.50) with 12.54 in second. Kellie Wells (12.72) and Nicole Denby (12.77) in third and fourth respectively also contributed to the high quality of the race.
Muna Lee clocks windy 21.91
A member of the gold medal winning 4x100m American quartet at the Helsinki World Championships, Muna Lee who was also an individual finalist at the Athens 2004 Games completed an impressive double taking the 100m in 11.10 (+1.9) and the 200m in a windy 21.91 (+2.8).
2003 World 100m champion Torri Edwards was a close runner up in 11.17 while US Virgin Islands record holder Laverne Jones won the second 200m section in a legal 22.89 (+1.8).
Pan-Am Games gold medallist Brendan Christian of Antigua produced the best male result with new national record and second fastest of the year at 200m. His 20.12 (+1.6) beat reigning Olympic champion Shawn Crawford whose 20.36 was a decent season opener.
In third Osaka fourth placer Rod Martin clocked 20.39 and Frenchman Eddy De Lepine became the fastest European of the season at 20.47.
Williams takes 100m; Wilson 110m Hurdles
At the shorter dash Ivory Williams continued in winning ways after his Guadeloupe outing, but his 10.07 here was aided by a 2.2 tail wind. Jamaica’s Marvin Anderson was second (10.12) beating his team-mate Dwight Thomas (10.14) and Christian (10.19).
Former World champion Kim Collins of Saint Kitts and Nevis clocked 10.24 with Crawford Sixth at 10.26.
American David Neville won the second 200m race (20.43, +1.6) before taking the outright win in the 400m with 45.57.
Osaka 400m bronze medallist Angelo Taylor improved his 200m best to 20.54 but had mixed fortunes at 400m Hurdles where he finished only fifth in his debut of the year (50.26, race won by Jamaican Markino Buckley 49.08, PB).
In the high hurdles, Ryan Wilson of the US clocked the second fastest time of the year at 13.28 (+0.9) ahead of all-time great Allen Johnson (13.32) and Eric Mitchum (13.35).
The men’s Long Jump saw a great battle for the win although it turned out that Brian Johnson’s first leap of 8.48m (2.1) had secured the win. Johnson’s best legal jump came in the third round at 8.30 (+1.6).
Olympic champion Dwight Phillips came close to snatching the win from his compatriot in the last round jumping 8.47 (+3.9); his best legal jump was 8.16 (+1.1). Miguel Pate was third with 8.39 (+3.1) and Jamaica’s Herbert McGregor achieved his first ever 8 metres mark with 8.08 (+2.0) in fourth.
Alfons Juck for the IAAF
