Eugene, Oregon (Sporting Alert) — American Carmelita Jeter and Jamaica’s Steve Mullings produced stunning times to win the 100m dashes at the Nike Prefontaine Classic on Saturday.
Jeter powered her way to 10.70 seconds to destroy a strong women field.
The American got off to a reasonable good start, and then moved away from the field mid-way through the race to run the fastest time in the world this year and her second fastest-ever.
Finishing second was another American, Marshevet Myers, at 10.86, while Jamaica’s Olympic silver medallist Kerron Stewart was third in 10.87. Olympic and world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was fourth in 10.95, ahead of her Jamaican compatriot Sherone Simpson, who ran 11.00 flat.
Mullings was equally as impressive in the men’s race – flashing to a meeting record of 9.80 to claim the win.
USA’s Mike Rogers also produced a personal best time of 9.85secs for second, while Jamaica’s Nesta Cater took third in 9.92.
Finishing fourth was Darvis Patton of USA, at 9.94, the same time as Jamaica’s Michael Frater in fifth, while disgraced American sprinter Justin Gatlin was sixth in 9.97.
Mullings’ time was just short of the 9.79secs world-leading clocking by training partner Tyson Gay in Clermont only hours before.
American David Oliver flashed to a world-leading 12.94secs to win the men’s 110m hurdles over China’s Liu Xaing, who ran 13.00, a year best for him also, which is also the second fastest this year.
American Lashinda Demus clocked a world-leading 53.31 to win the women’s 400m hurdles, beating Jamaicans Kaliese Spencer, who ran a season’s best of 53.45 and Olympic champion Melaine Walker, who also ran her fastest this season, at 53.56.
Sudan’s Abubaker Kaki raced to a meeting record and world-leading 1:43.68 to win the men’s 800m, improving the meet record of David Rudisha, who also holds the world record in the event. American Khadevis Robinson was second in 1:45.40.
Angelo Taylor handed Jeremy Wariner a defeat in the men’s 400m. Taylor, a two-time Olympic champion over the 400m hurdles, won in 45.16, beating Wariner, who clocked 45.43, while Belgium’s Kevin Borlee was third in 45.51. South African Oscar Pistorius trailed home last in 46.33, but the double-amputee runner says “it was just a blessing to be here to run before such a great crowd.”
Allyson Felix survived a false-start decision, but didn’t took advantage as Amantle Montsho of Botswana took off and never looked back to win in a time of 50.59.
Second went to Debbie Dunn in 51.37, while Felix, the world-leader, who was surprised at not being disqualified was third in 50.41
Fellow American Sanya Richards-Ross was fourth in 51.78.
