T&T's Richard Thompson posted a sizzling 9.90 seconds to claim silver in the Men's 100m final behind a world-leading mark of 9.72 from former world record holder Asafa Powell at the Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway, yesterday. Running out of lane six in the event, which is the third stop on the ExxonMobil IAAF Diamond League tour, with Powell beside him in lane five, Thompson crossed the line in a season best time that was slightly assisted by +2.1m/s wind. Third place in the event was picked up by Netherlands Antilles ace Churandy Martina, who finished in 9.92 seconds, while Jamaican Michael Frater was fourth in 9.97.
Thompson first eclipsed his season best time of 10.12, set while placing fourth at the Brazil Grand Prix in Rio de Janeiro in May, in the preliminary rounds at the Games when he won his heat in 10.08 to advance to the final. Other runners to advance to the final from Thompson's heat were the second-placed Jamaican Michael Frater (10.08) as well as Jaysum Saidy Ndune (10.09) of Norway and Martina, who came in third and fourth respectively. Other finishers in the men's sprint final were fifth place Trell Kimmons (10.11) of the USA, sixth place Lerone Clarke (10.11) of Jamaica, seventh place Ndure (10.14) and France's Martial Mbandjock (10.26), who was eighth.
The pervious world-leading time of 9.83 seconds was recorded by Powell in Ostrava, Czech Republic last week.
T&T-born American Kerron Clement was also on the podium in Oslo, winning the Men's 400m Hurdles. Clement's winning time was a season best of 48.12 while his countryman Bershawn Jackson ran 48.25 to finish second with Great Britain's David Greene finishing third in 49.05. Meanwhile, World Indoor champion Lolo Jones of USA held on to win the Women's 100m Hurdles over a strong field. Jones clocked 12.66 seconds to win the event over event rival Priscilla Lopes-Schliep of Canada, who was second in 12.72, and another Canadian Perdita Felicien, who also ran 12.72 for third. Elsewhere, American champion thrower Christian Cantwell left it late to win the Men's Shot Put with a fourth round throw that propelled him from fourth to first. His winning effort of 21.31m saw him overtaking Canadian Dylan Armstrong, who lead from the opening round until then. His best effort of 21.16m came in the second round.
Poland's Olympic champion Tomasz Majewski was third with a year best effort of 21.12m while American Reese Hoffa was fourth with a mark of 20.69.Germany's Nadine M�ller won the Women's Discus with an effort of 63.93m in the opening round and French pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie won that event with a clearance of 5.80m.The Diamond League is the successor to the Golden League. There is a total of $6.3 million in prize money across 32 track and field disciplines.