Fraser-Pryce, Bolt, Weir lead J"can victories in Brussels

MONTEGO BAY, St James — Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Warren Weir both won Diamond trophies as the IAAF Diamond League season came to an end in the final of the 14-meet schedule at the Van Damme Memorial in Brussels, Belgium, yesterday.

It was the third diamond in two years for Fraser-Pryce, who capped a stupendous season by retaining the 100m title with a brilliant and well executed meet record of 10.72 seconds (-0.3 m/s), while Weir made the best of a ‘gift’ presented to him by Racers Track Club teammate Usain Bolt when he took the 200m title, his first, by holding off compatriot Nickel Ashmeade to win the event in 19.87 seconds (-0,2m/s).Bolt, meanwhile, made a mockery of a deep men’s 100m field with a powerful run over the second half to win in 9.80 seconds (+0.6m/s), a full tenth of a second over American Mike Rodgers, who ran a season’s best 9.90 seconds, while World Championships bronze medallist Nesta Carter had yet another sub-10-second run this season (9.94 seconds) for third.Bolt, the World Championships triple gold medallist, looked better than he did a week ago in Zurich, but still had a modest start and had to rely on his superior second half to blow past a strong field that had six of the men who lined up in the final in Moscow three weeks ago.Justin Gatlin, the World Championships silver medallist, ended up fourth in 9.94 seconds, just ahead of Kemar Bailey-Cole’s 9.98 seconds.Fraser-Pryce, who last week secured the 200m diamond, had promised in Moscow she would be going after a sub-10.70-second timing, given some rest.She got off to a blazing fast start and won with a clear margin, just missing going under the 10.70-second mark, but ran her second fastest time of the season, just slower than her 10.71-second set while winning the event in Moscow. It was also her fourth time under 10.75 seconds.American Alexandria Anderson was second ahead of two Jamaicans — Carrie Russell, who was off to a fast start and finished with 10.99 seconds, her second time under the 11.00sec barrier, with Kerron Stewart fourth in 11.19 seconds.Weir was bumped up to the lead in the Diamond Race after Bolt switched to the 100m, but had to finish in the top two to ensure the US$40,000 prize and did his part with a workman-like win.Ashmeade, who won the diamond last year, ran a season’s best 19.93 seconds, but tied up late in the race after he led coming into the straight after a good curve.Another Jamaican, Rasheed Dwyer, was sixth in 20.40 seconds.Olympic and World Championships finalist Kimberly Williams equalled her best ever Diamond League finish with second place with 14.34m (+1.5m/s) behind diamond winner Caterine Ibarguen of Colombia, who won with 14.49m (1.1m/s).Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce from Jamaica wins the women’s 100 metres at the Diamond League Memorial Van Damme athletics event, at Brussels’ King Baudouin Stadium yesterday.Jamaica’s Usain Bolt wins the men’s 100 metres at the Diamond League Memorial Van Damme athletics event, at Brussels’ King Baudouin Stadium yesterday. (PHOTOS: AP)

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Fraser-Pryce, Bolt, Weir lead J"can victories in Brussels

Victories for Jamaica, Guyana in Under-19 cricket

JAMAICA coasted to a convincing 10-wicket win over Leeward Islands on the third and final day of the third-round match in the Regional Under-19 tournament at EGSC Molineaux here yesterday.

The ruthless Jamaicans dismissed Leeward Islands for 185 in their second innings after they were asked to follow on after a first-innings score of 142.Fighting half-centuries from Avier Christian (51) and Jeremiah Louis (53) added some respectability to the Leewards second innings, as they plummeted from 18 without loss to 28 for three.Fabian Allen rocked the Leewards’ top order, snatching four for 47, and Christopher Powell took three for 40, preventing the Leeward Islands batsmen from settling down.Openers Odaine McCatty and Leroy Lug knocked off a Jamaican victory target of 24 runs in less than five overs.Earlier, Jamaica had declared their first innings at 304 for nine.Over at Conaree, Windwards squandered an opportunity to come from behind and beat Guyana, who romped to a 140-run win.Guyana, resuming the final day on 42 for three, soon plunged to 70 for five.However, Tagenarine Chanderpaul hit an unbeaten 66 from 136 balls, which contained eight fours to provide the stability Guyana required.Larry Edward grabbed five for 37 to lead the Windwards’ fightback, which left them needing 237 runs for victory.However, the batsmen did not have the fighting spirit and collapsed to 96 all out.Keone George top scored with 30, while the second highest score was from Taryck Gabriel, who made 19.Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai (4-20) and Vishoa Narayan (3-9) led the Guyanese to victory.Earlier, Guyana had declared at 334 for nine in their first innings.And, at Warner Park, Barbados escaped with a draw in their third-round clash against Trinidad and Tobago.Chasing 194 to win, Barbados seemed to be playing for a draw at the tea break.They were crawling along at 80 for three after 37 overs.But some quick wickets after the tea interval gave the Trinidadians a glimmer of hope as Barbados were wobbling on 120 for seven with seven overs remaining.However, an unbroken eighth-wicket partnership between Jofra Archer (13) and Jerome Jones (7) ensured Barbados a draw, as they closed on 134 for 7.Jamaica’s victory has virtually moved them out of sight at the top of the table on 31.5 points, while Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago have 22.9 and 22.1 points, respectively.Leewards are on 18.7 points, Guyana, 12.5, and Windwards, 7.7 points.

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Victories for Jamaica, Guyana in Under-19 cricket