Blake beats Powell, Ricketts wins

Yohan Blake again got the better of Asafa Powell, clocking 10.05 seconds to win the 100-metre race at the IAAF World Challenge meet in Zagreb yesterday to secure his fourth straight win over his fellow Jamaican.

In his first 100m run since his fourth-place finish at the World Championships in London a few weeks ago, Blake stormed out of the block. By the time he was out of his drive phase, some 30 metres, or so, down the track, it was American Mike Rodgers who was closest to him.

Blake who took the win in 10.03 seconds, was made to do some work in the middle of the race, eventually powering away from Rodgers, 10.14. Powell, 10.16, finished strongly for third.

best jump

Also impressing was Shanieka Ricketts who posted her best jump of the season in the triple jump, registering a mark of 14.45m on her second attempt to take victory in the event over Viktoriya Prokopenko, 13.96m, and Dovile Dzindzalietaite, 13.95m.

In the men's shot put event, O'Dayne Richards, 20.09m, finished fourth behind Tomas Walsh, 21.50m, Damien Birkinhead, 21.35m and Michal Haratyk, 21.34m.

Andrew Riley, 13.49 seconds, also had to settle for fourth in the 110m hurdles won by Sergey Shubenkov in 13.12, ahead of Devon Allen, 13.19 and Balazs Baji, 13.46.

Megan Simmonds and Danielle Williams both clocked 13.40 seconds in the 100m hurdles for fourth and fifth place, respectively.

The event was won by Christina Manning 12.66 with her American countrywomen Dawn Harper-Nelson, 12.84 and Kristi Castlin, 12.86 finishing next best.

Schillonie Calvert-Powell, 11.43, continues to hunt fast times and had to settle for fifth in the 100m behind winner Blessing Okagbare, 11.14. Dina Asher-Smith was second in 11.23 ahead of Michelle-Lee Ahye, 11.26.