BERLIN: Kemar Bailey-Cole kept Jamaica’s flag flying in the absence of compatriots Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake at the ISTAF event yesterday by winning the 100 meters and helping his team to victory in the 4x100 hurdles.
Bailey-Cole equaled his personal best of 10 seconds at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium to finish ahead of former world champion Kim Collins of St. Kitts and Nevis and Jimmy Vicaut of France.
“Today I went out and executed my race. It wasn’t perfect because I wanted to run under 10 seconds. But I am satisfied to have achieved a new personal best,” Bailey-Cole said. “I’m a bad starter, like my compatriot Usain Bolt. I need to get a better drive.” The 20-year-old Bailey-Cole earlier anchored Jamaica to the relay win in 40.58 seconds, taking advantage of a mix-up between Darvis Patton and Wallace Spearmon of the US Collins said he was “definitely not running for my country anymore” in the wake of his expulsion from the St. Kitts and Nevis Olympic team for leaving the athletes’ village. Collins feels he was punished for spending time with his wife.
“Maybe at the Olympic Games in Rio, in 2016, I can run under the Olympic flag. If it’s possible. Or maybe I can run for another country, I don’t know yet,” Collins said. “I am disappointed that Kemar beat me but he is a talented athlete. I still feel good.” Olympic champion Aries Merritt set a meet record of 12.97 seconds to win the 110 hurdles, ahead of compatriot Ryan Wilson in 13.45 and Belgium’s Adrien Deghelt in 13.62.
“Today was not a world record, but there is still next year,” Merritt said.
Another American, Kellie Wells, claimed the women’s 100 hurdles in 12.72 before blowing kisses to the appreciative crowd.
“The time is good, I’m happy with it,” said Wells, an Olympic bronze medalist.
Queen Harrison of the US was second, with Canada’s Priscilla Lopes-Schliep third.
Kelly-Ann Baptiste of Trinidad and Tobago claimed the women’s 100 race in 11.25, ahead of Kerron Stewart of Jamaica and Myriam Soumare of France.
Olympic champion Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic captured the 400 hurdles, with Jamaica’s Leford Green second and Belgium’s Michael Bultheel third.
Nixon Kiplimo Chepseba led a Kenyan top-four sweep in the men’s 1,500, finishing in 3:33.11.
“The race wasn’t easy with all these fast Kenyans,” Chepseba said. “I know them because I train with them and they are all strong.” Another Kenyan, Pamela Jelimo, claimed the women’s 800 in 1:58.68, ahead of Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi and Abeba Aregawi of Ethiopia.
“Running 1:58 at the end of the season is OK,” Jelimo said. “My season has been very good for me and I’m happy.
Ethiopian pair Sofia Assefa and Mohammed Geleto Aman won the women’s 3,000 steeplechase and men’s 800, respectively.
In field events, Betty Heidler delighted her hometown fans by winning the hammer throw with a heave of 75.18 meters. Another local favorite, Olympic champion Robert Harting, claimed the discus with a throw of 67.4.
Sunette Viljoen of South Africa beat the Czech world record holder, Barbora Spotakova, to win the women’s javelin with a throw of 67.52.
Reese Hoffa of the United States claimed the shot put with a throw of 21.37. Poland’s Olympic champion Tomasz Majewski was second, followed by Americans Ryan Whiting and Cory Martin in third and fourth.
“I’ve been strong all year except for the Olympic Games,” Hoffa said, referring to his bronze medal in London. “I need to do a better job at the major competitions.” Olympic silver medalist Bjoern Otto of Germany won the men’s pole vault by reaching 5.78 meters, and Russia’s Aleksandr Menkov claimed the long jump.
Jamaica’s Bailey-Cole wins 100 meters in Berlin
Jamaica’s Bailey-Cole wins 100 meters in Berlin
Al-Ahli survive first-half scare to cruise to victory and tie Al-Hilal at the top of Saudi Pro League
- Al-Ahli draw level with league leaders Al-Hilal on 53 points after trailing 1-0 down at half-time
- Al-Ettifaq and Al-Fateh play out seven-goal thriller in Dammam
DAMMAM: Matchday 23 kicked began with what ultimately became a comfortable victory for Al-Ahli over relegation-battling Al-Najma at home. However, the hosts endured a tough first 45 minutes, falling 1-0 behind and missing a penalty before scoring four in the second half against the 10-man visitors.
Al-Najma — fresh off their first victory in Saudi Pro League history when they beat Al-Kholood last week — arrived in Jeddah with confidence. Despite facing an in-form Al-Ahli, they controlled the tempo early on, forcing the hosts play on the back foot for much of the opening half hour.
The architect of Al-Najma’s bright start was Néstor El Maestro, returning to the Saudi Pro League for the first time in five years. After guiding the club to their first win in 21 matches, a result in Al-Ahli’s backyard would have provided the perfect reignite their survival bid.
El Maestro once said, “Life is too short to spend defending in a low block”, during his time at relegation-battling Göztepe in the Turkish Süper Lig in 2022. That philosophy defined Al-Najma’s bold approach against the reigning Asian Champions League Elite and Saudi Super Cup holders.
Initially, the strategy paid off. Davd Tijanić beat two Al-Ahli defenders with a deft move on the left flank in the 27th minute before releasing Lázaro, who finished past Édouard Mendy to hand the visitors a surprise lead.
Al-Ahli immediately pushed for an equaliser. Ivan Toney was brought down in the box in the 29th minute, only for the referee to wave away penalty appeals. Moments later, a handball inside Al-Najma’s area led to a lengthy VAR review and eventually a spot-kick for the hosts.
Toney, seeking his 21st goal of the campaign and boasting a perfect record from the spot for Al-Ahli, saw his penalty saved by Victor Braga. He pounced on the rebound, but Braga recovered to claim the ball and preserve the lead.
Braga continued to frustrate the hosts with several key saves before clashing into an opponent on the verge of half-time. The referee initially awarded a second penalty to Al-Ahli, but after a VAR review overturned the decision, Al-Najma went into the break still in front.
Al-Ahli knew a victory was essential on a pivotal weekend, with city rivals Al-Ittihad facing Al-Hilal in a clash that could influence the title race. Their response after the interval was swift, with Riyad Mahrez delivering a dipping cross that was met by Valentin Atangana, who headed in the equaliser.
Atangana was fouled ten minutes later, when Felippe Cardoso pushed him in the face. The Brazilian striker, already booked, received his marching orders from the referee.
With a numerical advantage, Al-Ahli asserted control. Roger Ibañez picked out Mahrez with a measured long pass over the top. The Algerian cushioned a first-time lay-off into Toney’s path, and the English striker finished clinically in the 69th minute.
Toney added his second of the evening — and 22nd of the season — in the 87th minute, meeting Matheus Gonçalves’ cross at the far post with a first-time finish. The Englishman completed his hat-trick in the fourth minute of stoppage time after Al-Najma conceded their second penalty of the night.
The win moves Al-Ahli level on points with Al-Hilal on 53 points, awaiting their game later this week. Meanwhile, El Maestro’s task with Al-Najma grows more difficult, as Al-Riyadh’s 2-0 victory over Al-Kholood in Qassim leaves Al-Najma eight points adrift of safety.
Elsewhere, Al-Ettifaq and Al-Fateh produced one of the season’s most entertaining encounters in an Eastern Province derby. Al-Ettifaq raced into a 3-0 lead inside 36 minutes, with goals from Khalid Al-Ghannam and Georginio Wijnaldum putting them firmly in control.
North African duo Mourad Batna and Sofiane Bendebka dragged Al-Fateh back into the contest with goals on either side of stoppage time in the first half. Madallah Al-Olayan restored Al-Ettifaq’s cushion in 48th minute, but Batna struck again in the 71st minute to set up a tense finale.
After seven goals in a back-and-forth thriller, Al-Ettifaq held on for a 4-3 victory in Dammam.
Saudi Pro League action resumes on Friday, with Al-Okhdood hosting Al-Qadsiah, Al-Taawoun welcoming Al-Fayha and Al-Shabab travelling to Khamis Mushait to face Damac. All games kick off at 10:00pm in the league’s unified Ramadan schedule.
