jun.13.2010

TRINIDAD and Tobago’s Richard Thompson clocked a fast 9.89 seconds yesterday to win the gold medal in the Men’s 100m final at the Icahn Stadium, New York as the Diamond League continued with the Adidas Grand Prix.

Thompson, a silver medallist at the 2008 Olympics, showed his pedigree with a scorching but wind-aided 9.89 sprint, leaving Jamaican Yohan Blake in his wake.

Blake was second in a time of 9.91 seconds while Antiguan Daniel Bailey followed closely in third in 9.92 to complete a 1-2-3 Caribbean finish. Americans Trell Kimmons (9.92), Ivory Williams (9.98) and Michael Rodgers (9.99) placed fourth to sixth respectively.

Thompson received six Diamond points for his victory and is now second on the 100m Diamond Ranking.

Pan Am Junior gold medallist Keston Bledman was second in the Men’s “B” 100m final, crossing in 10.01 seconds in a scintillating finish with American Rae Monzavous Edwards.

Bledman won gold at the Star Athletics Sprint Series I last week in a wind-aided 9.93 seconds but just missed out on glory as Edwards pipped him for first place in 10 seconds flat. Marc Burns was third in 10.11 seconds.

There was no more success for TT at the meet as hurdler Jehue Gordon and sprinter Kelly-Ann Baptiste failed to medal. Gordon, a bronze medallist at the Ponce Grand Prix recently, had a disappointing showing in the Men’s 400m hurdles.

Gordon crossed the finish line in eighth place, stopping the clock at 49.96 seconds. American Kerron Clement, who holds four “world” gold medals, broke USA James Carter’s meet record with a sizzling 47.86 finish to take first place.

Compatriot Bershawn Jackson had a season best 47.94 time to take silver while Puerto Rico’s Javier Culson was third in a time of 48.47 seconds.

Kelly-Ann Baptiste just missed out a bronze medal in the Women’s 200m event, clocking a season best 22.82 to finish in fourth place. Baptiste has been in sensational form since switching camps recently, lowering her 100m personal best to an impressive 9.84 recently.

The former NCAA 100m champion, lowered her season best time over 200m but it was still not good enough to mount the rostrum.

Jamaican Veronica Campbell-Brown produced a world leading and met record time of 21.98 seconds to win the gold medal while Americans Allyson Felix (22.03) and Bianca Knight (SB 22.59) were second and third respectively.