Photo: Usain Bolt strikes his world famous pose after clocking 9.98s to in the 100m at the Ostrava Golden Spike World Challenge meet on Friday. (Getty Images)
Usain Bolt sped to a new season best of 9.98 seconds (-0.4m/s) to win the men’s100m at the Ostrava Golden Spike World Challenge meet on Friday.
Running in only his second race for the season, the triple record holder recovered from a modest start to overhaul the field with a strong finish and secure the win. However he wasn’t able to erase the meeting record of 9.83 seconds held by former world record holder Asafa Powell, set in 2010.
Second spot went to Barbadian Ramone Gittens in 10.21 seconds and finishing third was Hassan Tafian of Ireland in 10.25 seconds.
Javon Francis ran a very smart race to dispatch a relatively strong field, winning the men’s 400m in 44.87 seconds. He was trailed home by USA’s Tony Mcquay in a season’s best effort 45.17 seconds and Czech Republic’s Pavel Maslak in 45.46 seconds. Critisised heavily for the relay leg ran at the World Championships, the 21 year old showed maturity on Friday, pacing himself well before turning on the after burners at the top of the stretch before streaking away from the field, for a comfortable win.
Reigning national 400m champion Christine Day secured Jamaica’s only female victory on the night, with a commanding run of 51. 09 seconds. Day, who was the first Jamaican to win in Ostrava, came off the final turn ahead of the field and never looked like being caught at any time in the home stretch. Canada’s Carline Muir was second in 51.84 seconds and USA’s Jessica Beard in 51.88 seconds.
Kaliese Spencer had to settle for second in the women’s 400m hurdles with a modest 55.43 seconds. Despite a last twenty metres push, she was edged by the fast finishing Polish woman, Joanna Linkiewicz, who crossed the line in new personal best of 55.40 seconds. Pre-race favorite and reigning World Champion, Zuzanna Hejnova, running in front of her home crowd faded to third in 55.69 seconds.
Reigning World Junior champion and Junior World leader in the 400m hurdles, Jaheel Hyde hit the top of the hurdle coming off the first curve, crashing to the track and finished at back of the field in 65.98 seconds.
The race was won by South African Lj Van Zyl in a season best effort of 48.67 seconds, ahead of USA’s Johnny Dutch in 49.01 seconds and Poland’s Patryk Dobeck in 49.51 seconds.
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