media_artricles :: 2013

Gordon clocks season best in Birmingham

Olympic finalist Jehue Gordon clocked a season’s best time of 49.02 seconds in taking fourth place in the men’s 400 metres hurdles at the Samsung Diamond League seventh leg at the Sainsbury’s Summer Series in Birmingham, England yesterday. The 2010 World Junior champion improved on his previous best of 49.05 set in Guadeloupe on May 8.

The London Olympic sixth place finisher was beaten to the line by Olympic bronze medallist Javier Culson of Puerto Rico (48.59), Rhys Williams of Great Britain (49.93) and Olympic runner-up Michael Tinsley of the USA (48.94).

The Belmont Boys/QRC graduate finished ahead of reigning world champion David Greene of Great Britain (49.55), who was fifth and London Olympic gold medallist Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic (49.68) who finished seventh.

Gordon is racing in his first meet since capturing his fifth national title at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on June 23. Gordon’s time is short of his national record of 47.96 set in the semifinals of the London Olympics in 2012. He is now ranked 15th in the World standings. .

National record-holder Mikel Thomas missed out a spot in the men’s 110m hurdles when he was 12th in the heats. Thomas clocked 13.61 in heat two to finish fifth. The two-time Olympian was well off his national record of 13.19 set in June 8.

Ryan Brathwaite, the 2009 World Champion, continues to impress this season and beat Olympic champion and World record-holder American Aries Merritt in the event.

National 100 metres champion Keston Bledman bowed out in the men’s 100m semifinals. The 2005 World Youth bronze medallist was fifth in the first heat in 10.32 but was 10th overall. The top eight advanced to the finals which was won by Jamaican Nester Carter (9.90).

The veteran Kim Collins finished third (10.06) behind Briton James Dasaolu (10.03). Jamaicans Kimmari Roach (10.17) and Julian Forte (10.26) were seventh and eighth respectively.

Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was upset in the Women’s 200 metres, finishing behind Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare in the 200m even though the pre-race hype was billed between the Jamaican and American Carmelita Jeter.

Okagbare produced a late surge to win in 22.55, ahead of Fraser-Pryce 22.72. Sherone Simpson, also of Jamaica, was sixth and Jeter finished last. Bahamian Anthonique Strachan was disqualified.

In other results, Novlene Williams and Stephanie McPherson of Jamaica were third and fifth respectively in the Women’s 400m.

Top