Ashmeade wins, Blake pulls up

Andre Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

Nickel Ashmeade dipped below 10 seconds for the first time this season, turning back a strong 100m field at the two-day Glasgow Grand Prix yesterday - a field that included 2011 World champion Yohan Blake, who failed to finish after crashing to the track midway the contest.

The early word is that the 22-year-old suffered a cramp. This was welcomed news, considering his injury struggles last year, when hamstring issues forced him to cut his season short and miss the World Championships.

While Blake was being carted off the track in a wheelchair, Ashmeade was celebrating his fourth 100m win in five finishes so far this year. Not bad for the defending 100m Diamond winner - a man who was once considered a 200m specialist.

Ashmeade's win was the only one for Jamaican athletes at the meet, with the national champion crashing the line in a season's best 9.97 seconds, winning marginally ahead of Mike Rodgers, who clocked the same time and another Jamaican Nesta Carter, 9.98 seconds.

WEIR SECOND AGAIN

Olympic bronze and World Championships silver medallist Warren Weir - with a second place finish in 20.30 seconds, suffered his third straight loss, following Alonso Edwards, 20.25 seconds to the line with Curtis Mitchell, 20.31 running third.

Novlene Williams-Mills, 50.60 and Stephenie-Ann McPherson, 50.98 were third and fourth respectively in the 400m, with Francena McCorory, 49.93 and Sanya Richards-Ross, 50.39 taking the top two spots.

Andrew Riley and Hansle Parchment (fourth and fifth) both stopped the clock at 13.31 seconds but the 110m hurdles event went to Britain's William Sharman in a personal best 13.21 seconds effort, with Jeff Porter, 13.27 and Sergey Shubenkov, 13.29 taking the other top spots.

Kemar Bailey-Cole won the 100m B race in a smooth 10.03 seconds ahead of compatriot Kimmari Roach, 10.26 and Sean McLean, 10.29.

It was tough going for the Jamaicans in the women's 400m hurdles with Shevon Stoddart, 56.43 and Nickiesha Wilson, 57.61 taking sixth and eighth spots.

Roxroy Cato ran fifth in the men's 400m hurdles in a time of 49.04 with Javier Culson taking the win in 48.35 ahead of decathlete Ashton Eaton, 48.69 and Michael Tinsley, 48.91.

Action will continue at Hampden Park today.

Schedule for Jamaica athletes

Men's Long Jump 8:05 a.m.

Damar Forbes

Women's 100m B 8:11 a.m.

Schillonie Calvert

Women's 100m 9:15 a.m.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

Simone Facey

Women's 200m 10:14 a.m.

Samantha Henry-Robinson