Asafa Powell of Jamaica powering home to the finish line to clock 9.93 seconds to win section two of the men's 100m dash at the Prefontaine Classic at the Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon on Sunday, May 28, 2006. (Photo by Ryan Phillips/Allsports)

Powell starts million dollar hunt with two sub-10 seconds as Bekele beaten in Oslo - Bislett Golden League report
Friday June 2, 2006

OSLO, Norway - Kenyan Brimin Kiprop Kipruto, the Olympic silver medallist in the 3000 Metres Steeplechase improved his own personal record on his way to winning men's 1500m race at the ExxonMobil Bislett Games, an IAAF Golden League meeting in Oslo, Norway, on Friday.

Also landing impressive performances at the meet were Asafa Powell, the joint 100m world record holder who cruised to an impressive 9.96 seconds in winning his heat of the men's 100-metre dash prior to taking the finals in another sub-10 seconds, Isaac Songok in the men's 5000m, Sanya Richards and Jeremy Wariner in the women's and men's 400m respectively.

Kipruto leaves Steeplechase to better 1500m personal best

Kipruto clocked 3:36.53 to improve his previous best time of 3:35.96 for a bronze medal at the 10th IAAF World Junior Championships in Grosseto, in 2004.

Kipruto's winning time was the seventh fastest this season behind Rashid Ramzi of Bahrain, whose world leading time is a swift 3:32.34.

Former Kenyan runner Bernard Lagat, who now competes for USA is the other competitor to run below 3:33 already this season, his time is 3:32.94.

The 20-year-old Keiyo-born reigning IAAF World Championships silver medallist in the Steeplechase rushed home ahead of two other Kenyans, Yusuf Kibet Biwot and Wesley Cheruiyot.

Biwot picked up second in a time of 3:36.95, while Cheruiyot crossed at 3:37.64.

Back-to-back sub-10seconds for Powell

Powell, the 2006 Commonwealth Games champion produced another Sunday morning stroll in winning the men's 100m dash over a modest field in the Bislett Stadium.

The 23-year-old Jamaican who shares the world record of 9.77 with American Justin Gatlin, easily won the race on a chilly night with a 9.98 performance over American Shawn Crawford, the Olympic 200m champion at 10.02.

"I felt the negative wind stronger than 0.9," Powell said after the race. "It was not possible to make a top time under this conditions."

Jamaican ran was running his 17th and18th sub-10 seconds in his career and he said had he attempt to run fast in the heats he would have gone 9.80.

"In the heat it (conditions) was very good. I got 9.96 without doing anything. If I had gone for time in that heat I can guarantee that you have seen 9.80."

Asked to assess his races Powell said: "They were just good enough. I know that I am in good shape and can run very fast. I am ready for everyone, also Justin Gatlin."

American Marcus Brunson posted another good time of 10.06 to take third, while Trinidad and Tobago's Marc Burns was fourth in 10.14.

Ferguson on top again

Like she did in Ostrava earlier this week, Bahamian Debbie Ferguson top another strong field to win the women's section of the100m.

Despite not matching her mid-week11.14 performance, Ferguson was still able to hold off Commonwealth Games 200m champion Sherone Simpson of Jamaica and World Indoor 60m champion MeLisa Barber of USA.

The Bahamian Olympic bronze medallist over 200m clocked 11.22 to Simpson, 11.30 and Stephane Durst (11.31), Barber (11.32) and Zhanna Blcok (11.32)

Songok ends Bekele's million dollar chase

The men's 5000m had an unusual finished with World record holder Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia beaten by more than 20m despite firmly placed to start his Golden League money chance on a winning note, with 100m to go in the race.

Bekele took off with similar sprint with 400m left in race. However, he was caught and virtually destroyed by Kenyan Isaac Songok, whose 12:55.79. timing bettered all the performances this season.

Bekele crossed the finish line second in a time of 12:58.22, with Mike Kigen of Kenya finishing third in 12:58.58 ahead of team mate Edwin Soi in 12:59.45.

Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba ran an impressive world-leading and personal best time of 14.30.40 to take the women's race over her older sister Ejegayehu.

"I had a lot of power the last lap and am very happy both with my time and the win," she said.

Ejegayehu came home second in 14:33.52, with Kenyan Edith Masai, third in a national record 14:33.84.

Richards improves world best - Wariner gets small test

The women's 400m saw American World silver medallist Sanya Richards improving her own world-leading mark to win the that event in a time of 49.83. Richards became the first runner to break 50-seconds in Bislett since Australian former Olympic champion Cathy Freeman did it in 1996.

Richards' aim for this season is to consistently run fast times and she was happy with her winning performance.

"The race went very well. I executed my work in a nice way and I’m pleased. The crowd at Bislett is nice."

Jamaicans Sherika Williams (50.93) and Novlene Williams (51.15) followed the Jamaican-born sprinter. Sherika's time was a personal best for her.

In the men's race World and Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner had to kick in another gear to catch Bahamian Chris Brown, who held the lead until the final 50m.

As expected, the American picked up the pace and power to the in a time of 44.31, the second fastest time in the world this year behind his own 44.12.

"It is never easy," Wariner said after his race "But this was a very good race. I am in good shape and very happy that I was able to do this good race."

Other meet results

Other results at the meet saw Olympic champion Andreas Thorkildsen setting a second round national record in the men's Javelin Throw with a mark of 91.59m; Alex Kipchirchir of Kenya went 3:50.32 to win the men's mile, just ahead of  World Indoor champion Ivan Heshko of Ukraine, who crossed in 3:50.89; Jamaica's Brigitte Foster-Hylton took the victory in women's 100m hurdles in 12.70, while Janet Jepkosgei, the Commonwealth Games champion took the women's 800m.

European champion Kim Gevaert of Belgium winning the women's 200m in time of 22.58 seconds. She defeated Cayman Islands' star runner Cydonie Mothersill, who came home in 22.87 and Russian athlete Yuliya Gushchina, at 23.07.

Virgilijus Alekna of Lithuania won the men's Discus Throw with a mark of 68.39m.

Carloina Kluft of Sweden easily won the women's long jump with a leap of 6.67m, despite not having one of her better days in the sand.

The Multi-athlete, who won the women's Heptathlon at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004, said there is still room for improvement.

"My legs felt very slow today, the winning jump was jump of sheer will," Kluft said after the event. "The technique improves as the competition progresses, but there is a lot that need to be adjusted."

Please note that the women's long jump and 200m are "NOT" Golden League events.

Gary Smith - World-Track Sports Media