Hurdler Spencer shines at London Grand Prix

Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer

Jamaica's Kaliese Spencer continued her excellent form this season as she earned the country's only win at the Aviva London Grand Prix meet yesterday at Crystal Palace.

She demolished a good field to capture the women's 400 metres hurdles event in 53.78 seconds.

Spencer, who was fourth in the event at the Berlin World Championships last year, led from start to finish to record an impressive victory as the Czech Republic's Zusan Hejnova was way back in second place in 55.11 seconds as Jamaica's other competitor Nickeisha Wilson, the Senior Central American and Caribbean Games champion, could only manage seventh in 56.80. Yesterday's win pushed Spencer to the top of the one-lap hurdles event in the Diamond League. She has 16 points, four more than American Lashinda Demus.

Momentum

Three other Jamaicans had top-three finishes on yesterday's final day of the two-day meet. Jermaine Gonzales and Dwight Thomas were second in their respective events while Ricardo Chambers had a third-place finish.

World leader in the 400 metres with a career-best 44.40 seconds, Gonzales was hoping to turn the tables on the American Jeremy Wariner who defeated the Jamaican into second place the last time they met. Both Gonzales and teammate Chambers got away from the American in the first 200 metres but showing poise and relaxation, the former Olympic and World champion picked up his momentum in the last 200 metres to overtake both Jamaicans to win the event in 44.67 seconds, just getting the better of Gonzales in second in 44.80 seconds as Chambers held on for third in 45.18.

Dwight Thomas also maintained his good form in the men's 110 metres hurdles. He was competitive early before the world leader American David Oliver pulled away from his rivals in the latter part of the event to win in 13.06 seconds. Thomas finished a respectable second in 13.22 seconds.

Good form

The other Jamaicans who competed yesterday found the going a bit tough as they failed to finish among the top three. In the first track final, the women's 400 metres, both Shericka Williams and Novlene Williams-Mills failed to reproduce their mid-season good form as Williams (51.10) seconds finished fifth while Williams-Mills was sixth in 51.22.

American Allyson Felix, who won the women's 200 metres the previous day, completed the double by outrunning her opponents in a very close race in 50.79 seconds. European champion Tatyanan Firova of Russia, 50.84 was second as World Indoor champion Debbie Dunn of the United States finished a close third in 50.89.

Another American, Marshaevet Myers, created a major upset in the women's 100 metres as she inflicted the second defeat of the season on countrywoman Carmelita Jeter. Myers who was out of the blocks very fast, held her form well to win in 11.01 seconds as Jeter had to settle for second in 11.05. Jamaicans Sherone Simpson (11.15) and Aleen Bailey (11.23) were fourth and seventh, respectively. Earlier Schillone Calvert failed to advance to the final of the event after clocking 11.40 seconds to finish sixth in her heat.