By Lorraine Cummings for World-Track
HENGELO, Netherlands — Olympic finalist Churandy Martina clocked 9.97 seconds in a slight head wind to win the men’s 100m at the Fanny Blankers-Koen Games in Hengelo on Monday.
The Netherlands Antilles’ star sprinter sizzled home ahead of American Monzavous Edwards, second in 10.02sec with Great Britain’s Simeon Williamson posting 10.09 for third.
In the women’s sprints LaVerne Jones-Ferrette of the U.S. Virgin Islands won her third sprint double of season after winning the 100m in 11.13 seconds and 200m 22.49sec.
American Stephanie Durst also ran 11.13 for second in the 100m, with Chandra Sturrup of the Bahamas, third in 11.18.
Finishing behind Jones-Ferrette in the 200m were British duo Christine Ohuruogu, who ran a personal best of 22.85 for second and Joice Maduaka, third in 23.22.
Meanwhile, Ethiopian great Haile Gebrselassie just fell short of breaking his own One Hour world record, after running 21,285 meters in time span, falling 463 meters behind his best.
“It was difficult in changing weather, rain, wind, we experienced everything,” he said. “The rabbitt was maybe what was needed at the beginning. I wanted to break the record for this fantastic people.
“What you can do, it was not possible. But is just a race, I m still happy. Amazing people here, they came so early. I will not be at World Championships because I will run the Berlin marathon.
“But I want to be at London Olympics in marathon 2012!,” he was quoted in an interview with Dutch TV.
There were season’s bests for Ethiopian Ali Abdosh in the men’s 5000m, after winning the event with a strong 12:59.56, countrywoman Gelete Burka (3:58.79) in the women’s 1500m.
Kenya’s Brimin Kipruto won the men’s 3000m steeplechase with a time of 8:06.46.
In the men’s Long Jump Panama’s Irving Saladino took an exciting competition ahead of American Dwight Phillips in a world-leading 8.56m. Phillips, the previous world-leader finished second with 8.54m.
