Qatar’s Femi Ogunode dethroned former World Champion Yohan Blake to top the world standings in the men’s 100m after equaling his Asian Record of 9.91s at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational on Friday, April 22 in Gainsville in the USA.
Ogunode finished ahead of USA’s Isaiah Young and Jamaican Nickel Ashmeade who both clocked in 10.03s, while Canada’s Aaron Brown followed in 10.10s.
Akani Simbine (9.96s), Wayde Van Niekerk (9.98s) and Hua Wifried Koffi of Cote d’Ivoire (10.01s) join Ogunode and Blake on the list of the world’s Top 5 sprinters in 2016.
2015 European Athlete of the Year, Dafne Schippers was also in fine form as she stormed to a World Lead (WL) of 22.25s in her first 200m race of the year, firing warning shots ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Portland 2016 World Indoors Bronze medallist in the 400m, Quanera Hayes followed with a Personal Best (PB) of 22.89s, having also set a PB of 49.91s in the 400m a week ago at the Chris Brown Bahamas Invitational.
In the women’s 100m, Simone Facey of Jamaica set the pace by returning a time of 11.00s, while Moscow 2013 double Silver medallist, Murielle Ahouré placed 2nd with 11.06s, while Candyce McGrone finished 3rd in 11.13s.
Great Britain’s Richard Kilty won the men’s 200m in 20.60s as Ronnie Baker and David Lima clocked 20.64s and 20.68s respectively to finish 2nd and 3rd.
Machel Cedenio of Trinidad and Tobago won the men’s 400m title, posting an impressive time of 44.79s, and was followed by David Verberg (45.11s) and University of Florida’s Arman Hall (45.17s).
Italy’s Libania Grenot won the women’s event in 51.63s, while Shakima Wimbley and Ebony Eutsey placed 2nd and 3rd in 51.75s and 52.20s respectively.
European Champion Tiffany Porter raced to the 100m Hurdles title in 12.72s, finishing ahead of Anne Zagre (12.95s) and Nadine Visser (12.99s) of the Netherlands.
London 2012 Silver medallist Jason Richardson won both the preliminaries (13.51s) and final, lowering his time to 13.33s to lead the pack in the 110 Hurdles. Compatriots Ronnie Ash (13.47s) and Devon Hill (13.62s) followed in 2nd and 3rd respectively.
