Chambers powers clear
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/3061613.stm
Britain’s Dwain Chambers powered to victory in a controversial men’s 100m at
the Norwich Union Super League meeting in Gateshead on a night when the
women’s pole vault world record was broken.
Chambers ran 10.27 seconds into a strong headwind to beat fellow Briton Mark
Lewis-Francis into second in 10.53 with another countryman Darren Campbell
third, just 0.1 behind.
But the race, which should have been the highlight of the evening, was
marred by a false start which three athletes - Kim Collins, Bernard Williams
and John Capel - claimed not to hear and ran the full distance.
Instead of rescheduling the event, the athletes were ordered back to their
blocks.
In the re-run Capel, winner in Friday’s Rome Golden League meeting, finished
fourth, US champion Williams was seventh and Commonwealth champion Collins
last.
Chambers said: “It is something that occurred and you just have to be
prepared for these things.”
Meanwhile, Russian Yelena Isinbayeva set a world record of 4.82m in the
women’s pole vault.
Isinbayeva, 21, beat the record of 4.81m held by US Olympic gold medallist
Stacy Dragila, set in California in June 2001.
In the men’s triple jump, Christian Olsson set a personal best of 17.92m to
win from Jonathan Edwards.
The British Olympic gold medallist began his outdoor season with an opening
jump of 17.61m.
“That was my furthest opening jump of the season ever. To open with 17.61 -
I’m flabbergasted really,” said Edwards.
Steve Backley won the men’s javelin thanks to his monster first round throw
of 85.69m.
Morocco’s Hicham El Guerrouj raced to an impressive victory in the men’s
1500m after kicking for home over the last 600m.
Christian Malcolm edged out Chambers for victory in the 200m, which saw four
different leaders in the home straight.
In the men’s 3,000m, Abraham Chebii led home a Kenyan one-two-three.
Chebii, who beat Kenenisa Bekele and Haile Gebrselassie over 5,000m on
Friday, outsprinted compatriot Leonard Mucheru in a slow-run race.
In the women’s 200m, Beverley McDonald won in a time of 23.10secs with GB’s
Joyce Maduka second in 23.25secs.
Mozambique’s Olympic and world champion Maria Mutola proved her class to
beat European champion Jolanda Ceplak in the women’s 800m.
Jamaica’s Michael Blackwood won the men’s 400m in 44.85secs to edge out
Britain’s Daniel Caines, who ran 45.46secs.
Britain’s Katharine Merry continued her comeback from injury with a season’s
best 52.35 to finish in fifth in the women’s 400m.
Demetria Washington edged out Heidi Quinn of South Africa in a time of
51.29secs with Ronetta Smith in third.
In the women’s 3,000m, Zahra El Kamch of Morocco beat Jo Pavey into second
but Ireland’s Sonia O’Sullivan and Britain’s Kelly Holmes were well down the
field.
