With a terrible start, Usain Bolt got out late, but was in the race, as Yohan Blake took the lead and ran his personal best of 9.75 in the Jamaican Trials 100 meter final. Asafa Powell ran 9.88 to Usain Bolt’s 9.86. That was what we watched on the computer with our friends at Lets Run. Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce ran a NR of 10.70 to win the women’s 100m in Jamaica, with Veronica Campbell Brown with 10.86 and Kerron Stewart in 10.94.

With two more days in the 2012 US Olympic Trials, there will be some killer races, like the 200 meters, the 1,500 meters and the men’s triple jump and women’s long jump. And what about a settlement of the women’s 100m dead heat?

The battle is on!

BLAKE
BEATS BOLT, NR FOR FRASER-PRYCE

KINGSTON
(JAM, Jun 29):  Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
wins the women’s 100m in a Jamaican record 10.70 (+0.6) and in one of the
most anticipated 100m races Yohan Blake destroyed the field to take the
national crown on the second day of the JAAA/Supreme Ventures National Senior
Championships at the National Stadium. Blake running from lane 7 clocked the
fastest time in the world this year and personal best 9.75 (+1.1) to defeat
world record holder and double Olympic champion Usain Bolt. Bolt recovered from
a bad start to post 9.86 seconds to place second. Former world record
holder Asafa Powell ran 9.86 seconds to finish third and qualify for his third
Olympics. Also sub 10 fourth Mike Frater 9.94 ahead of Kemar Bailey-Cole 10.00,
Nesta Carter 10.01 and Lerone Clarke 10.07. In the women’s section, Olympic
champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce smashed the national record and became the
fourth fastest woman in history blazing to 10.70 in demolishing the field in
the final of the women’s 100m.Veronica Campbell-Brown placed second in 10.82
seconds and Kerron Stewart 3rd in 10.94. Sherone Simpson in 11.01 beat
Schillonie Calvert 11.05 for the relay places. Earlier Olympic champion Melanie
Walker booked her ticket to the Olympic Games with a smooth 54.77 seconds
to take the women’s 400m hurdles final. Training partner and former Diamond
League winner Kaliese Spencer came second with a time of 55.04. Nickiesha
Wilson took the final qualifying spot running the „A” standard of 55.50.
National junior record holder Ristannana Tracey missed out on her first Olympic
Games running a time of 55.64 seconds. In the men’s section Leford Green
secured his place to the London Olympics winning the final in a time of
48.88. Josef Robertson clocked a time of 49.53, while Roxroy Cato did
49.65 to finish 2nd and 3rd respectively. Olympic medalist Danny McFarlane did
not make the cut this time around as he finished 4th in a time of 49.69.
Informs Trackalerts.com.

BOLT
HAD A BAD START

KINGSTON
(JAM): Usain Bolt lost a race only for a second time since his
Beijing show (Stockholm 2010 to Tyson Gay 100 m and we need to count also the
dq in Daegu).  He was slower out of the
blocks than the rest of the field. „I thought it was a good race but
everybody kept moving in the blocks and that kind of threw me off,” Bolt said. „I
think overall I executed through the first 60 meters but the last part not
so good, overall it was okay. For me it is just one of those things.” Glen
Mills, who coaches both Blake and Bolt, told Reuters: „We are right where we
want to be going into London. We just want to keep them healthy. The strategy,
we didn’t send him (Blake) to Europe and he is in far better shape than Bolt at
this time. We have four weeks (until the Olympics) and we will take it in
stride. We know what to do, so we’ll get there. Bolt is a tough cookie and
I think he will survive.” They will return to run the 200 m heats on
Saturday.

HUGE
LONG JUMPING IN THE QUALIFICATION

EUGENE
(USA, Jun 29): Three of the six Olympic qualifiers from Friday’s U.S. Olympic
Team Trials are young collegians. Colorado’s Emma Coburn and Shalaya Kipp
qualified in the steeplechase, and Tia Brooks of Oklahoma took the third in the
women’s shot put in front of a crowd of 21,097 at Hayward Field. Coburn,
who set a huge lifetime best at the Pre Classic on June 2, enjoyed another
relatively unchallenged tour around the Hayward field 9:32.78.  Behind her, Bridget Franek moved up steadily
through the field and held off a charging Shalaya Kipp for second at
9:35.62, as Kipp achieved the Olympic A standard with a 9:35.73 in
third. Even on a relatively subpar day, American Record holder Jill
Camarena-Williams was able to summon up a 19.16 in the third round to win
the women’s shot put, and her third career U.S. outdoor title. 2008 Trials
champion Michelle Carter launched an 18.57 on her fifth attempt to take second.
NCAA winner Tia Brooks of Oklahoma held the early lead and finished third to
nab her first Olympic berth with a throw of 18.34.  2008 Olympic silver medalist Hyleas Fountain
ended the day in first place after four events in the women’s heptathlon.
Fountain finished second in both the 100m hurdles (12.84) and the high jump
(1.87) and held on with the fifth best shot put and third best 200m of the day.
Fountain now sits in the lead by a margin of 151 points with 3948.  Setting up one of the most anticipated finals
of the Trials, Sanya Richards-Ross, Allyson Felix and Carmelita Jeter all moved
on in the women’s 200 as 400m champ Richards-Ross had the fastest time at 22.15
(+0.6). Felix clocked a 22.30 (+0.8) to take the third semifinal heat
ahead of 2011 World bronze medalist Jeter’s 22.64, and NCAA champion Kimberlyn
Duncan of LSU advanced with a 22.37 in semi two. Jeneba Tarmoh and 100m
runner-up Tianna Madison went 1-2 in the first semifinal 22.30 (+3.4) and
22.33.Defending World champion and American Record holder Lashinda Demus
recorded the fastest time by an American this year in the semifinal of the
women’s 400m hurdles with a 54.41 runaway victory in section two. The top
three advancers in the men’s 400m hurdles share five Olympic and World titles
between them. Two-time Olympic champion Angelo Taylor looked very impressive in
winning the second semifinal at 48.77, sprinting to the front over the first
five hurdles and then maintaining and easing home in front of Michael Tinsley’s
49.05. Bershawn Jackson took care of the first semifinal heat in 48.83 ahead of
Kerron Clement’s 49.04. Last year’s national champion, Jeshua Anderson, failed
to advance. 2011 World No. 1 Morgan Uceny and World Champion Jenny Simpson led
the way in the women’s 1500m semifinals, going 1-2 in the first section with
Uceny tops at 4:08.90. Four women met the automatic advancement standard of
675m in long jump qualifying, including a windy (+2.8) and massive 715 by
Janay Deloach. Another shocker came from Vashti Thomas of The San Francisco
Academy of Art in round two, as she moved to equal eighth on the U.S. all-time
list with a 697 effort. Thomas had a previous PR of 648 indoors.
World Indoor and Outdoor champion Brittney Reese needed only one attempt,
spanning 688. Three-time World Championships medalist Wallace Spearmon was
easily the best of the qualifiers for the semifinal of the men’s 200m,
strolling to a windy 20.17 (+3.1) in the first heat. Dix and Gatlin did
not run. 2011 World Champion Jason RIchardson (+0.3) and Aries Merritt
(-1.6)  produced the fastest times 13.13
from the opening round of the 110m hurdles. 
Not advancing from the first round was Terrence Trammell, who clocked
13.86 for fifth place in the final heat. Kara Patterson won the javelin with
60.49 m. From USATF website.

MONTSHO
49.54, OKAGBARE 697

PORTO
NOVO (BEN, Jun 29): Third day of African Championships saw world champion
Amantle Montsho winning in a fast time of 49.54 ahead of Nigerian Regina
George 51.11 and former world champion Amy Mbacke Thiam 51.58. Also gold for
Botswana in men´s 400 m with Isaac Makwala getting 45.25 in front of Oscar
Pistorius in 45.52 who missed the oly qualifier.  Algerian Tarik Makhloufi won 800 m in a fast
time of 1:43.88, second Kenyan Anthony Chemut in 1:44.58 and third Andre Oliver
of South Africa 1:45.09. Double for Kenya in steeple with Abel Mutai in 8:16.05
and Wilson Maraba 8:16.96, bronze for Ugandan Benjamin Kiplagat 8:18.73.
Moroccan Rabab Arafi won 1500m women in 4:05.80 new champs-record beating
Kenyans Mary Kuria (4:06.22) and Margaret Wangare (4:06.50). Blessing Okagbare
won the long jump as expected with high quality 696 (+1.7) and helped Nigeria
to win 4x100m in new meet record 43.21. In the men´s relay gold for South
Africa 39.26 over Nigeria (39.34) and Ghana (39.40). Another Nigerian gold for
NCAA Champ Amaechi Morton 49.32 at 400 m hurdles when LJ Van Zyl did not
finish, South African Lehan Fourie stopped the clock at 13.55 (-0.8) in heats
of hurdles, new meet record. Ohunomoa Osazuwa of Nigeria leads heptathlon 3768
(Margaret Simpson is no longer continuing). South African gold for Victor Hogan
in discus 61.80 and hammer was completed with Amy Sene 65.55 win for Senegal.
High jump gold for Seychelles as Lissa Labiche beat with 186 on count back
South African Anika Smit.

PISTORIUS
HOPES

PORTO
NOVO (BEN): Four-time Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius has missed out on his
dream of competing in the 400 meters individual event at the London 2012
Olympic Games after he failed to better the 45.30 Olympic ‚A’ qualification
standard required for the event. Pistorius admitted he is disappointed with the
result but that he still hopes to be selected for the South African 4x400m
Olympic relay team, which is widely tipped to win a medal at London 2012. „My
race today felt good and I’m pleased to have won the silver medal at the
African Championships,” Pistorius said. „I am obviously disappointed that my
time was just outside of the Olympic qualification time by two tenths of a second.
I had felt very strong coming into this competition as my fitness and
speed has been continually improving. I was in good shape to set the time
and believe my speed will only increase over the next few weeks. I had a great
early start to the season, setting the Olympic qualification time and I am
hoping that there is still the opportunity for me to be selected to run for
South Africa in the 4x400m relay.”

OTHER RESULTS

CALGARY
(CAN, Jun 29): At National Championships of Canada Justyn Warner won the 100 m
in 10.15 (+1.0) beating Ian Warner 10.20 and Oluseiy Smith 10.22. Daundre
Barnaby won the 400 m in 46.00 and in tactical races Nate Brannen 3:49.22 and
NCAA Champ Cameron Levins the 5000 m in 14:34.82. Solid hurdles for Matthew
Brisson 13.73 (+1.5). Hurdler Phylicia George won the 100 m in windy 11.30
(+2.5) in close finish with Crystal Emmanuel also 11.30. Jenna Martin got the
400 m in 51.53. In good 1500 m of oly standard holders Malindi Elmore achieved
4:13.58 over Hillary Stellingwerf 4:13.94 and Nicole Sifuentes 4:14.06. Sheila
Reid 16:15.23 in the 5000 m and Nicole Forrester cleared 186 to win the high
jump with Elizabeth Gleadle 60.13 in javelin.

SAO
PAULO (BRA, Jun 29): From Trofeu Brasil Caixa Atletismo (National
Championships) to report that Hederson Alves won the 400m in 45.25 with other
two sub 46 times. In women 400 m also good 51.46 by Gisela Aparecida ahead of
Joelma das Neves 51.54. Fabio Gomes da Silva cleared 540 in pole vault. Nonata
da Silva second title in 5000 m (after 10k) in 15:36.57. Good quality Lucimara
Silvestre 6026 in heptathlon and 1:21:36 in 20 km walk for Caio Oliveira.

SAN
SALVADOR (ESA, Jun 29): Bahamian Teray Smith won the 100 m in 10.58 (+0.9) at
CAC Junior Championships. In the U17 even faster winner Jamaican Jevaughn
Minzie in 10.46 (-0.6 and 10.42 +0.4 in heats). Impressive Wesley Vazquez (18)
of Puertorico 1:46.89 in the 800 m. Also good Javarn Gallimore of Jamaica 50.83
in the 400 m hurdles. Dominican Republic Fanny Chalas won the girls 100 m in
11.53 (-1.0). Akela Jones of Barbados got two U17 wins in high jump 181 and
long jump 636 (+0.1).

MOSCOW
(RUS, Jun 28): Second day of U23 Championships of the city European junior
champion 2011 Vera Rudakova clocked new PB 56.64 at 400 m hurdles. Good 73.31
in hammer for Oksana Kondratyeva.

OTHER NEWS

CALGARY
(JAM): Athletes Charmaine Crooks of Vancouver, B.C., Milt Ottey of Toronto,
Ont., Guillaume LeBlanc of Sept-ÃŽles, Que., Dave Steen of New Westminster,
B.C., and Bruny Surin of Montreal, Que., were enriched into Athletics Canada’s
Hall of Fame  to officially kick off Hall
of Fame Friday at the 2012 Canadian Track and Field trials.

MONACO
(MON): Herculis Samsung Diamond League meet on July 20 confirmed more stars.In
the 400 m olympic winner LaShawn Merritt against Martyn Rooney and Borlee
brothers. Zuzana Hejnova returns for 400 m hurdles after two wins here. In
women 800 m Caster Semenya is going to clash with Alysia Montano. Briton Andrew
Osagie is in the 800 m, Silas Kiplagat in the 1500 m. In long jump world indoor
champion Mauro Vinicius da Silva against 
Mitchell Watt. Fresh Eurowinner Robbie Grabarz is in the high jump.
Global medalist Olga Rypakova in the triple and Stephanie Brown-Trafton in
women discus. Yelena Isinbaeva will fight with Fabiana Murer in the pole vault.

EUGENE
(USA): World Express Athletic Management, a full service athletic
management company announced it has signed three new athletes to its roster,
following the NCAA National Championships. Whitney Gipson (Women’s Long Jump –
Texas Christian Univ); Jarret Eaton (Men’s 110m hurdles – Syracuse Univ.) and
Brittany Borman (Javelin – Oklahoma University).

CORRECTION

PORTO
NOVO (BEN): The mark of Ndis Kaba Badji in long jump is 804 (not 814).