Spencer seals Diamond as Jamaicans flourish in Birmingham

Photo: Kaliese Spencer on her way to sealing another Diamond (Getty Images)

Newly crowned Commonwealth Champion Kemar Bailey-Cole once again hit the top of the podium after his dominant run in the men’s 100m, to win at the Birmingham Grand Prix in 10.08 ahead of compatriot Nesta Carter. Britain’s Chijindu Ujah ran 10.23 for fourth, as Harry Aikines-Aryeetey clocked 10.34 in sixth.

The women’s equivalent saw Kerron Stewart of Jamaica topping the field in 11.22 ahead of France’s Myriam Soumaré with 11.25 as Britain’s Asha Philip was third with 11.26. She was followed over the line by relay team-mate Ashleigh Nelson with 11.27 as USA’s Tori Bowie pulled up before limping off of the track.

The top spot in the men’s 200m ,went to Nickel Ashmeade who clocked 20.33 in a close race, Panama’s Alonso Edward just behind him with 20.35. Ashemeade held his form to drive home ahead of the fast finishing Edwards, to extend his lead in the diamond trophy race. Jamaica’s other entrants, Rasheed Dwyer finished third in 20.38 while Jason Livermore was 5th in 20.80s.

There was a repeat of the Commonwealth top two in the women’s 400m hurdles as Jamaica’s Kaliese Spencer ran away from the field to beat Scottish athlete Eilidh Child . Spencer finished with a fast 53.80s to seal another Diamond League trophy, while Child ran 54.89s .

Caterina Ibarguen, needed only one jump to claim victory in the triple jump, 14.52m her best. That win also secured her the overall Diamond League victory.Olga Rypakova, KAZ, took second on her fourth jump of 14.37m, on her sixth jump. Jamaica CommonWealth Champion Kimberly finished 4th with 14.04m.

Dawn Harper-Nelson, three days after stumbling midway the Stockholm diamond league race, won a rematch in the sprint hurdles event in 12.66 over fellow American Queen Harrison with 12.70. Olympic champion Sally Pearson of Australia was third with 12.85, one place ahead of Britain’s European champion Tiffany Porter with 12.93.

Other cracker jack performances came from Great Britian’s distance running hero,Mo Farah who delighted the Sainsbury’s Birmingham Grand Prix crowds on Sunday as he dominated the two-mile event, smashing the European record with 8:07.85.

“I was a bit tired going into it so I had to push myself to get that win, but once I got into it, I got better and better,” said Farah. “I was looking at the clock thinking ‘I can do it’.

Fresh from claiming her Commonwealth and European 800m silver medals, Lynsey Sharp returned to the track to claim a number of big scalps. The Scottish athlete clocked 1:59.14 for her second-quickest ever time to beat world champion Eunice Sum of Kenya .

World champion Christine Ohuruogu returned from her fourth-place finish at the European Championships to clock 51.40 to win the non-Diamond League race in Birmingham

Kenya’s world and Olympic 1500m gold medallist Asbel Kiprop ran a meeting record in the Emsley Carr Mile event, his 3:51.89 enough to see him cross the line clear ahead of world indoor 1500m champion Ayanleh Souleiman of Djibouti with 3:52.07. Kenya’s Commonwealth 5000m champion Mercy Cherono clocked 9:11.49 for victory. Behind her, her compatriots Viola Kibiwot and Irene Jelagat ran 9:12.59 and 9:12.90 respectively .Kenya’s world 800m record-holder David Rudisha admitted he was disappointed not to have got a bit closer to Johnny Gray’s 1:12.81 world 600m record but he cruised to victory with 1:13.71 – the fourth quickest time in history for the rarely-run distance.

There was another exciting battle over the bar in the men’s high jump as world and European high jump champion Bohdan Bondarenko of Ukraine and Qatar’s world indoor gold medallist Mutaz Essa Barshim both cleared the winning height of 2.38m – a meeting record – but failed their three attempts at 2.41m and Barshim claimed the victory on countback.

New Zealand’s shot put star Valerie Adams extended her unbeaten streak to 55 competitions, her first throw of 19.96m .