Bolt, Blake win again as Aries sets world record

BRUSSELS, Belgium (CMC):Sprint icon Usain Bolt and fellow Jamaican Yohan Blake scored contrasting victories to headline the season-ending Memorial Van Damme Diamond League meeting here yesterday.

While Bolt coasted to a time of 9.86 seconds to win the 100 metres, Blake stormed to a 19.54 clocking to capture the 200 metres.

Bolt, however, looked sluggish and had to come from behind to win the contest.

Running out of lane five, the Olympic champion was away slowly as compatriot Nesta Carter grabbed the early lead. However, Bolt powered through in the last 40 metres to clinch victory.

"I was just happy to be done. I went out there just for the fans," Bolt told reporters afterwards.

"From yesterday I told my coach (Glen Mills) that I felt slow and lazy. I felt drained. He told me 'make sure you go out there and execute right and it should be ok' and that's what I did."

Carter finished second in 9.96 seconds with another Jamaican Kemar Bailey-Cole placing third in a personal best 9.97 seconds.

Veteran St Kitts and Nevis sprinter Kim Collins was fourth in 10.03 seconds, with Nickel Ashmeade fifth in the same time.

Blake, meanwhile, looked sharp as he impressively dominated his field in the half-lap.

The 22-year-old, who has not lost a race since taking silver in both sprints at the London Olympics last month, jetted through the curve to enter the stretch in front.

He was chased down by fellow Jamaican Jason Young but was hardly challenged in the final 75 metres as he crossed the line well ahead of the field.

Young took second in 19.92 seconds while Christophe Lemaitre clocked 20.17 seconds to be third.

"I feel like I'm just starting," Blake boasted. "I feel I could go through until next year. I could do anything. Next year it will be even better."

Olympic bronze medallist Warren Weir was fourth in 20.22.

There was also victory for Jamaican Kaliese Spencer who took care of business in the women's 400 metres hurdles, clocking 53.69 to beat Perri Shakes-Drayton of Great Britain.

Former World champion Ryan Brathwaite of Barbados was a disappointing eighth in the men's sprint hurdles as American Aries Merritt, the Olympic champion, set a new World record in winning the event.

Merritt clocked 12.80 seconds to smash Cuban Dayron Robles' four-year-old mark of 12.87 seconds.

Olympic bronze medallist, Hansle Parchment of Jamaica, finished third in 13.14, behind American Jason Richardson (13.05).

Selected results from yesterday's Diamond League meet in Brussels, Belgium:

MEN

100m:

1. Usain Bolt (JAM) 9.86

2. Nesta Carter (JAM) 9.96

3. Kemar Bailey-Cole (JAM) 9.97 (PB)

4. Kim Collins (SKN) 10.03

5. Nickel Ashmeade (JAM) 10.03

6. Ryan Bailey (USA) 10.04

200m:

1. Yohan Blake (JAM) 19.54

2. Jason Young (JAM) 19.92

3. Christophe Lemaitre (FRA) 20.17

4. Warren Weir (JAM) 20.22

5. Celesio Newman (USA) 20.32

6. Darvis Patton (USA) 20.53

400m:

1. Kevin Borlee (BEL) 44.75

2. Jonathan Borlee (BEL) 45.02

3. Lalonde Gordon (TRI) 45.13

4. Luguelin Santos (DOM) 45.31

8. Allodin Fothergill (JAM) 45.87

9. Rusheen McDonald (JAM) 46.63

110m Hurdles:

1. Aries Merritt (USA) 12.80 (WR)

2. Jason Richardson (USA) 13.05

3. Hansle Parchment (JAM) 13.14

4. Sergey Shubenkov (RUS) 13.21

5. David Oliver (USA) 13.21

6. Lehann Fourie (RSA) 13.24

WOMEN

200m:

1. Myriam Soumare (FRA) 22.63

2. Anneisha McLaughlin (JAM) 22.70

3. ChaRonda Williams (USA) 22.74 2

4. Samantha Henry-Robinson (JAM) 22.84

5. Knight, Bianca (USA) 22.86

6. Mariya Ryemyen (UKR) 23.06

400m hurdles:

1. Kaliese Spencer (JAM) 53.69

2. Perri Shakes-Drayton (GBR) 53.89

3. Zuzana Hejnova (CZE) 54.09

4. Melaine Walker (JAM) 54.79

5. Muizat Odumosu (NGR) 55.47

6. Hanna Yaroshchuk (UKR) 55.61

8. Ristananna Tracey (JAM) 56.86

Triple Jump:

1. Olga Rypakova (KAZ) 14.72m

2. Olha Saladuha (UKR) 14.40

3. Marija Sestak (SLO) 14.10

4. Hanna Knyazyeva (UKR) 13.93

5. KImberly Williams (JAM) 13.90

6. Dana Veldakova (SVK) 13.88