THOMPSON
KEMEL THOMPSON turned in an impressive performance in winning the 400 hurdles and Korene Hinds broke the 3,000 steeplechase national record at the Rieti Grand Prix in Italy yesterday.
Thompson, the only Jamaican winner on the programme, stopped the clock in 48.16 and was clear of Bayano Kamani of Panama (48.57), as fellow Jamaican Gregory Little finished third in 48.95.
Korene Hinds, broke the 3,000 steeplechase national record for the second time, running 9:30.12 to finish third behind Uganda's Dorcus Inzicuru, 9:16.46 and Russia's Yakaterina Volkova (9:29.94).
Jamaica's other entrant, Mardrea Hyman, ran a personal best for placed fourth in 9:33.99.
CREDITABLE PERFORMANCES
Several other Jamaicans turned in creditable performances as the improving Dwight Thomas sped to 10.10 for fourth in the 100 metres behind Ghana's Aziz Zakari, who won in a meet record 9.99 seconds.
Chris Williams continued to improve, grabbing second in the 200m in 20.32, just ahead of fellow Jamaican Ainsley Waugh (20.36). Ronald Pognon of France won in 20.27.
National 800 metres record holder, Kenia Sinclair, returned to form, clocking 1:59.69 seconds for a close third behind Kenya's Janet Jepkosgei (1:59.49) and Russia's Olga Kotlyarova (1:59.49).
After winning the race, Zakari said he didn't care that Justin Gatlin and Asafa Powell were not at the meet to see it.
"Today's my day. With them or not, if I run 9.99 I'm going to be happy," Zakari said after matching his career best at the same race track that Powell set a world record of 9.77 two months ago.
"It's not easy going under 10 and to have done it twice is very satisfying. It's a special mark for sprinters," Zakari said.
While Powell and world champion Gatlin have dominated the sprinting scene this season, Zakari has quietly posted a few important victories, such as his two Golden League victories in Paris and Oslo.
"I'm happy, I've had a great season, despite what happened at the World Championships," said Zakari, who finished last in the final in Helsinki.
Two more events remain in the outdoor season - the Golden League meet in Berlin next Sunday and the finals in Monaco on September 9-10 - and Zakari is aiming to improve.
NO GREED
"That's my dream before the season ends. Although I don't want to be greedy now," he said.
Tyson Gay of the United States, who was fourth in the 200 at the worlds, finished second in 10.08 and Britain's Jason Gardener crossed third in 10.09. Kim Collins, the 2003 world champion, was sixth in 10.16.
Having hosted six middle-distance world records in its 35 years, the meet lived up to its fast track billing with several more quick times. The conditions - little wind, high humidity and cool temperatures - helped.
Dorcus Inzikuru, recently crowned Uganda's first world champion, won the women's 3,000 steeplechase in 9:16.46, the third fastest mark all-time behind her own 9:15.04 in Athens in June and Gulnara Samitova's record of 9:01.59 set last year. Helsinki silver medallist Yekaterina Volkova, who finished second in a distant 9:29.94, was nearly 100 metres behind when Inzikuru crossed the line, with Jamaica's Hinds and Hyman following home next in line.
"It's a fast track. And this kind of weather makes me run faster," Inzikuru said of the slight rain that fell during her event.
Kenya-born Bernard Lagat, who recently became an American citizen, posted the fastest time this year in the 1,500 at 3:29.30.
Maryam Yusuf Jamal of Bahrain also clocked a season-best in the women's 1,500 at 3:56.79. Russia's Natalya Yevdokimova finished second in 3:57.73 for the second best time of 2005 and recently crowned world champion Tatyana Tomashova came third in 3:59.05.
In the men's 3,000, Ethiopia's Sileshi Sihine posted the fourth-fastest time of 2005 in 7:29.92.
Kenya's Wilfred Bungei won the 800 in 1:43.70, also the fastest time this year, although slightly off his personal best of 1:42.34 (fifth all time) in 2002 here.
"I knew when I came here today I had a high possibility of going fast and doing real well," Bungei said. "The weather is perfect for this type of race."
Brad Walker was the only man to clear 5.96 in the pole vault, consequently failing in three bids to clear 6.04 for a new American record.
Czech legend Jan Zelezny - the three-time Olympic and world champion and world record holder (98.48) - won the javelin with a throw of 81.96.
