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.