UPDATED WITH VIDEO (Thanks, Universal Sports!)
Yohan Blake just provided more evidence that we’re living in a Golden Age of sprinters.
The Jamaican posted a time of 9.69 seconds into a slight headwind to win the 100 meters at the Diamond League’s Lausanne stop. That ties Tyson Gay for the fastest time ever recorded by someone other than Usain Bolt.
In fact, it ties Bolt’s then-world record from Beijing. Bolt went faster to win the 2009 World Championships (9.58) and the Olympics earlier this month (9.63).
Gay ran a quite-respectable 9.83 on Thursday to finish second. Jamaica’s Nesta Carter was third, and the USA’s Ryan Bailey was fourth at 10-flat.
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Then Bolt himself came onto the track for the 200 meters and also tied Tyson Gay’s best at 19.58. The commentators spotted a few flaws in his race, then pointed out that only four people have ever gone faster (one of whom is Bolt himself).
He also plays some air bass. No, not air guitar. Not at that angle. Air bass. Trust me on this. I’ve played both.
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Also in Lausanne:
– Carmelita Jeter made such a stunning comeback in the women’s 100 meters that the announcers had pretty much given the race to Olympic gold medalist Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica), assuming that Jeter had done no better than make a close race for second. Fraser-Pryce probably assumed she had it, too, and might have had a more convincing lean at the finish had she realized the danger. They both finished in 10.86. If you follow Jeneba Tarmoh after the whole Olympic trials kerfuffle — she was sixth in 11.13.
– Matthew Centrowitz ran a personal best 3:31.96 in the 1,500 meters, good for third place behind Kenya’s Silas Kiplagat (3:31.78) and Ethiopia’s Mekonnen Gebremedhin. Leo Manzano had his best time of the season (3:34.08), good for 10th. We told you those Diamond League meets with their pacemakers were faster than the Olympics, right? Galen Rupp didn’t finish — that’s worth checking on later. But if you don’t know Centrowitz’s name, learn it now. He was third at Worlds last year; fourth in the Olympics this year. Worth hyping when he runs.
– The men’s 110 hurdles were disappointing — Olympic champion Aries Merritt false-started. Silver medalist and world champion Jason Richardson won in 13.08, just ahead of the resurgent David Oliver.
– New Zealand shot putter Valerie Adams continued her Belated Gold Medal (Thanks, WADA) Victory Tour by smashing a meet record that had stood since 1989. Not saying that previous record was questionable, but it was well before WADA was established, and the holder was from East Germany. That record was 20.36 meters. Adams tossed 20.73 on her first attempt, watched as no one else came close (the USA’s Michelle Carter was second at 19.60), then came back for her unnecessary final attempt and threw 20.95. Now she’s just showing off.
– Seven of the eight runners in the women’s 100 hurdles were from the USA or Canada. No, Lolo Jones wasn’t there. Neither was Kellie Wells. So you won’t be surprised that Dawn Harper won. But her time of 12.43 is very good.
– Don’t ask about the U.S. high jumpers.
– Brittney Reese is still in her post-London doldrums.
Duresport.com 