jul.04.2009

TRINIDAD and Tobago sprinter Renny Quow won gold at the Bilett Games, Oslo, Norway yetserday clocking an impressive 45.13 seconds to win the Men’s 400m final.

The 21-year-old, TT’s top quarter-miler continued his rich vein of form after winning the 400m event at the National Championships last month to beat a field which included Leslie Djhone of France who was fifth in the 400m final at the Beijing Olympics last year.

Quow was seventh in that final but showed he has improved since then to beat the Frenchman into second place.

Djhone crossed the finish line in 45.37 while Gary Kikaya of Konga placed third in 45.53.

National women’s 100m champion Kelly Ann Baptiste, was TT’s other medallist at the prestigious meet, earning the silver in the Women’s 100m final, in a time of 11.14.

Olympic silver medallist Kerron Stewart of Jamaica outclassed the field to win the gold in a blistering 10.99 while Bahamian Chandra Stirrup claimed the bronze, sprinting home in 11.15. Commonwealth Games double gold medallist Sherri Ann Brooks of Jamaica was fourth in 11.27.

Former Men’s 100m world record holder Asafa Powell cruised to victory in his pet event, taking the gold in a slow 10.07. Daniel Bailey of Antigua was second, also in 10.07 while Jamaica’s Michael Frater had to settle for the bronze in 10.08. TT’s Marc Burns was fourth in 10.13.

Powell overcame a poor start to win in a photo finish but fell short of clocking his 50th time under 10 seconds.

“I didn’t feel as strong as I normally do,” Powell said. “I didn’t get a great start. I was way behind. I got to the front somehow, but I didn’t finish as strong as normal.

“But a win is always a win. I can’t complain. I beat some good guys today, guys who have run under 10 seconds. I can’t be too hard on myself.”

It was Powell’s second race after returning from an ankle injury. “It’s not 100 percent,” he said. “I’m still a bit cautious. I have two more races next week. Hopefully I can do better and better in both.”

Powell had hoped to join Maurice Greene of the United States as the only sprinter with 50 sub-10 second races. Greene tops the all-time list with 53. Powell, who set four world records between 2005-07, has the second fastest time in history (9.72). His countryman Usain Bolt holds the world record at 9.69.

Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia, who has set 14 world outdoor records, won the women’s pole vault at a disappointing 4.71. The competition was stopped for about an hour because of a thunderstorm.

Sanya Richards of the United States won the women’s 400 metres in 49.23 seconds for the fastest time of the year. Richards, who has not lost a 400 in the Golden League since Zurich 2004, also tied the Bislett Stadium record that Czech Tatjana Kocembova set in 1983.

Shericka Williams, the Olympic silver medalist from Jamaica, finished second in 49.98. Christine Ohuruogu of Britain, the reigning Olympic and world champion, wound up a disappointing sixth in 51.19.

It was the first major race of the season for Ohuruogu. The Bislett meet is the second of six in the Golden League series.

Five events for men and five for women will be part of the Golden League’s $1-million jackpot.

The men will compete in the 100 metres, 400, 3,000-5,000, 110 hurdles and javelin, while the women will contest the 100, 400, 100 hurdles, high jump and pole vault.

Any athlete that wins those events at each of the six Golden League meetings will claim at least part of the US$1 million jackpot.

If no one wins all six of their events, athletes with five victories will share US$500,000. (AP)