Thompson eighth in Zurich

Double Olympic silver medallist Richard Thompson was eighth in the men’s 100m dash at the Weltklasse Diamond League meeting in Zurich yesterday. Thompson clocked a modest 10.23 seconds to finish well behind newly crowned world champion Yohan Blake of Jamaica who roared to personal best of 9.82 seconds. Former world record holder and compatriot Asafa Powell (9.95) was second while Daegu runner up American Walter Dix (10.04) took third. Powell got off to a blistering start and was in front midway into the race but Blake surged past to taking a commanding victory.

Michael Frater of Jamaica (10.06), Daegu bronze medallist Kim Collins of St Kitts/Nevis (10.09), Daegu finalist Jamaican Nesta Carter (10.12) and Norway’s Jaysuma Saidy Ndure (10.20) all got to the line ahead of Thompson. American Trell Kimmons was ninth (10.33). Grenada’s  400m world champion Kirani James notched his third win in row taking the men’s one lap in a new Grenadian record of 44.36 seconds. The 19-year-old whipped Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt of the USA as he did in Daegu. Merritt had to settle for second in 44.67 with Jamaican Jermaine Gonzales in third (45.39). James’ compatriot Rondel Bartholomew was fourth (45.43).

Dayron Robles rebounded from his disqualification in Daegu to take the men’s 110m hurdles in 13.01 seconds. The Olympic champion and world record holder finished ahead of the world champion Jason Richardson of the USA (13.10) with another American David Oliver in third (13.26). Robles crossed the line first at the World Championships was disqualified for impeding his rival Xiang Lui of China.

RESULTS

Men’s 100m
1    Yohan Blake    Jamaica    9.82 (personal best)
2    Asafa Powell    Jamaica    9.95
3    Walter Dix    USA    10.04
4    Michael Frater    Jamaica    10.06
5    Kim Collins    St. Kitts/Nevis    10.09
6    Nesta Carter    Jamaica    10.12
7    Jaysuma Saidy Ndure    Norway    10.20
8    Richard Thompson    T&T    10.23
9    Trell Kimmons    USA    10.33