Great Britain’s Dai Greene stormed to 400m hurdles victory ahead of world championship runner-up Javier Culson in the Diamond League meeting in Lausanne.Greene clocked 48.41 seconds to deny Culson and American Justin Gaymon with world champion Kerron Clement fifth.Jamaica sprinter Asafa Powell set the fastest time of 2011 with victory in 9.78 secs in the men’s 100m.In the triple jump, Teddy Tamgho leaped to a world-leading jump of 17.91m over Britain’s Phillips Idowu.Another Briton Tiffany Ofili-Porter raced to third in the 100m hurdles.Greene, who laid down a significant marker ahead of this summer’s world championships in Daegu, South Korea, told BBC Sport: “I know I’m very close to the British record, but I’m saving my best for the world championships.”I’m ahead of schedule in training. You have to believe you can win [and be the best in the world], and days like this reinforce that.”Fellow Briton Jack Green, Greene’s training partner and recent under-23 silver medallist, was fourth in 49.44.In the men’s 100m, five athletes ran under 10 seconds as Powell took the year’s best time off American Tyson Gay.Powell’s countryman Michael Frater ran a personal best of 9.88 to trail in second, while France’s Christophe Lemaitre could only manage third with 9.95, despite equalling his personal best.The race was missing Olympic champion and world record holder Usain Bolt and the world’s second fastest man Gay, who will miss the world championship sprints after pulling out of the US trials through injury.Powell told BBC Sport: “It was a fantastic run. It was a bit cold but I managed to push it through.”I got a great start, I’ve been practising it for a long time now. I’m taking it one step at a time. When I get to Daegu, may the best man win.”In their on-going battle in the lead-up to this summer’s worlds, Tamgho and Idowu ensured the Swiss crowd were well entertained in the triple jump.After two no-jumps, Tamgho, the world indoor record holder, powered to a monstrous leap of 17.91m in the third round.
Idowu, the world and European champion, could not dethrone Tamgho with his best effort of 17.52m.Meanwhile, Britain’s European and Commonwealth champion Andy Turner ran a personal-best time of 13.22s to come fourth in the 110m hurdles.Cuban world record holder and Olympic champion Dayron Robles won the event by the slightest of margins after looking laboured over the final 50m.His time of 13.12 will do little to worry the absent world leader David Oliver.Jamaican Dwight Thomas came through in second in 13.16, while Jason Richardson of the USA was third in 13.17. Britain’s William Sharman, still recovering from a recent soft tissue injury, trailed home in last place in 13.71.In the women’s 100m hurdles, Ofili-Porter almost earned herself a British record but the high wind speeds made her time of 12.64 illegal as she just pipped Virginia Crawford to third place.Crawford had stormed out of the blocks but Australian Sally Pearson came through to take the victory in 12.47 seconds. She was trailed by Danielle Carruthers of the USA in 12.48.
The women’s long jump was won by American Brittney Reese with a jump of 6.85m. Russia’s Darya Klishina placed second with 6.76m, a season-best performance. Britain’s Shara Proctor took third with 6.66m.There were signs that world champion Sanya Richards-Ross is getting back to her best after injury as she came second in the 400m.The American ran a season-best time of 50.61 behind winner Amantle Montsho of Botswana, who ran 50.23.Richards-Ross told BBC Sport: “Missing the entire 2010 season with a career-ending injury was tough but training is going great and this performance is encouraging.
“Milcah Chemos of Kenya won the women’s 3,000m steeplechase in 9:19.87.David Rudisha cruised to a simple victory in the 800m in 1:44.15, putting the Kenyan world record holder in prime position for this summer’s world championship crown.Ukrainian Mariya Ryemyen beat Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie of the Bahamas to take the women’s 200m in 22.85.In the women’s 1500m, Caster Semenya could only manage 13th place behind Morgan Uceny of the USA, who won in 4:05.52 ahead of Anna Mishchenko in 4:06.00. – BBC
