Above: Grenada’s Kirani James
By the Caribbean Journal staff
Olympians Kirani James, Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake all began their post-London work with victories at the latest Diamond League meet in Lausanne.
James, who won Grenada’s first-ever gold medal in London earlier this month, won the 400m in 44.37, ahead of Dominican Republic native Luguelin Santos. His 43.94 showing won gold in London.
Blake won the 100m in a personal-best 9.69, which was a meet record. He topped American Tyson Gay and fellow Jamaican Nesta Carter, who finished third in 9.95 seconds. Bolt did not compete in the 100m.
But Usain did compete in the 200m, which he won in 19.58, a meet record. That was ahead of the Netherlands’ Churandy Martina and fellow Jamaican Nickel Ashmeade.
On the women’s side, Olympic gold medalist and Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce finished second by a hair to Carmelita Jeter of the United States.
Jamaican Kaliese Spencer won the women’s 400m hurdles with a season-best time of 53.49. Jamiaca’s Melaine Walker finished second in that race.