Sport

Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer

OLYMPIC 4x100 metres relay gold medallist Nesta Carter continued his awesome form when he lowered his season-best from 9.86 seconds to 9.85, as he finished second in the men's 100 metres at the Belgacom Memorial Van Damme Diamond League meeting in Belgium yesterday.

With the absence of training partner Asafa Powell and Usain Bolt from the event, the race, which included three other Jamaicans, was still expected to be a cracker as it included world leader Tyson Gay of the United States, along with American Trell Kimmons, Daniel Bailey of Antigua and Richard Thompson from Trinidad and Tobago.

From a local standpoint, most attention surrounded Carter and the in-form Yohan Blake, who was hoping to defeat Carter for the first time.

The athletes had to face the starter twice as the race was called back. Strangely, none of the athletes were penalised for a false start.

On the second occasion, Carter got a flying start and led for majority of the way before he was overtaken towards the end by a fast-finishing Gay, who got left in the blocks.

The American still clocked a fast 9.79 seconds for the win, just outside his world-leading and season-best of 9.78s, as Blake, who once again got out of the blocks slow, finished third in 9.91s.

Blake's training partner, Mario Forsythe, finished sixth in 10.12s, while World Junior champion Dexter Lee equalled his winning world junior time of 10.21 seconds to finish eighth.

Fothergill improves

World Championships representative Allodin Fothergill also had a top-three finish at the meet, improving on his performance on Sunday to grab third in the men's 400 metres in 45.44 seconds.

Costa Rica's Nery Brenes continued his good late-season form to win in 44.92s ahead of hometown athlete Jonathon Borlee, who finished second in 45.27 seconds.

Both Dorian Scott and Korene Hinds found the going rough.

Scott ended seventh in the men's shot put with a heave of 19.20 metres, while Hinds finished ninth in the women's 3000-metre steeplechase in 9:54.37.

There were also good wins at the meet for the United States' Bershawn Jackson and Allyson Felix, and Canada's Priscilla Lopes-Schliep.

Both Americans have already wrapped up their respective Diamond League title. Jackson clocked 47.85s to win the men's 400m hurdles, while Felix, who also won the women's 400m title, took the 200m in 22.61s.

Lopes-Schliep, who had a duel with American Lolo Jones for the Diamond League 100-metre title, established herself as the best in the event this season, showing explosive speed to win going away in 12.54 seconds to secure eight points to finish on 22 overall.

Jones failed to finish in the top three as Australia Sally Pearson (12.64s) was second. Third went to Perdita Felicien of Canada in 12.68s, while Jones finished a disappointing fifth in 12.78s, to remain on her 14 points going into the final event.