Thomas wins in Japan

Jamaica hurdler Dwight Thomas extended his impressive season at the 23rd Super Track and Field meet at Todoroki Stadium in Kawasaki, Japan yesterday after bettering the field to claim victory in the men's 110m hurdles in a time of 13.46.

The Jamaica record holder was engaged in an enthralling battle with American Ryan Wilson who matched the Jamaican stride-for-stride but in the end had to settle for second in 13.48.

Another Jamaican, Vonette Dixon was third in the women's 100m hurdles posting a time of 13.37 behind the winner Danielle Carruthers (U.S.A.), 13.14, and Asuka Terada (Hokkaido HiTec), 13.24.

Meet highlights

The highlights of the meet were, however, triple European champion Christophe Lemaitre's victory in the men's 100m and Blanka Vlasic's dominating performance in the women's high jump.

Lemaitre ran most of the race unchallenged, winning in a time of 10.26; comfortably ahead of American 200m specialist Wallace Spearman, 10.47, and Ramil Guliyev of Azerbaijan who crossed the line in 10.57.

Comeback

In her first appearance since her emotional 2.05m victory at the IAAF/VTB Bank Continental Cup at home in Split, Croatia, Vlasic cleared 1.86m, 1.89m, 1.92m, 1.95m and 1.97m all with her first attempt, the latter height securing the win for the two-time World champion.

2005 400m hurdles world champion Bershawn Jackson controlled his race, with Takatoshi Abe, silver medalist at the World Junior Championships, staying reasonably close until fading down the home straight. Jackson won convincingly in 49.87 with 2004 Olympic Champion Felix Sanchez second in 50.53.

- A.L.