Thaindian News

Paris, July 9 (IANS/CMC) World champion sprinter Usain Bolt stormed to yet another victory but it was Trinidadian Kelly-Ann Baptiste who stole the headlines as she upset Jamaican Veronica Campbell-Brown in the 100 metres at the Paris Areva Diamond League meet here.

Bolt, who almost missed the race as he struggled with a bout of flu, clocked 20.03 seconds Friday to win the men’s 200 metres ahead of European champion Christophe Lemaitre who was second in a season-best 20.21 seconds.

The Jamaican, who slowed significantly at the end, said he was in two minds whether to actually pull out of the race.

“It was just one of those days. There were some problems at the start. Up to 150 metres it was OK, but the last 50 were not good,” said Bolt.

“I need to stay focused now and get better in the next few weeks. I was not feeling good because of the flu, but at the end of the day I decided to run and could win.”

Running out of lane six, Bolt burst from the blocks and exploded through the first 100 metres to emerge as the clear leader in the stretch. He slowed in the last 40 metres as Lemaitre finished quickly.

Baptiste, meanwhile, stunned the field in the women’s marquee event when she stormed to victory in 10.91 seconds.

She matched Campbell-Brown away from the blocks and was one step ahead of the Jamaican at the half-way mark, before powering to the finish.

Campbell-Brown was timed at 9.95 seconds with Jamaican Kerron Stewart third in 11.04 seconds.

Bahamian Chris Brown, meanwhile, clocked a season-best 44.94 seconds to win the men’s 400 metres ahead of Belgium’s Jonathan Borlee (45.05) and Jamaican Jermaine Gonzales (45.43).

In the women’s 400 metres hurdles, World and Olympic champion Jamaican Melaine Walker was upset as Czech Zuzana Hejnová captured the event in a world-leading 53.29 seconds.

Walker finished fifth behind fellow Jamaican Kaliese Spencer who was second in a season-best 53.45 seconds, and Russian Natalya Antyukh (54.41), who was third.

–IANS/CMC
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