Athletics Australia – News – Bolt conquers Rome as Lavillinie sets world lead

He came, he saw and he conquered in Rome.

Usain Bolt has made his seasonal debut at the Samsung Diamond League in Rome overnight, with plenty of world leads providing many highlight across what was a fantastic showcase of track and field.

The 40,000 fans in the Olympic Stadium, many of whom were attributed to Bolt's attendance, had to wait until the penultimate event of the evening to see the Jamaican, but his compatriot Asafa Powell perhaps didn't get the memo that this was the Bolt show as he flew out of the blocks and held a metre lead until the half-way point before Bolt dipped to win in 9.91 ahead of Powell who was edged out in 9.93. Double European gold medallist Christophe Lemaitre (FRA) finished behind the Caribbean pair in 10.00.

The Italian crowd had been treated to a delight of performances prior to the headline act though, starting with L.J Van Zyl (RSA) who lined up in the 400m hurdles as the fastest in the world this season. He showed his class, leading from the front and although European champion Dai Greene (GBR) closed him down in the home straight, Van Zyl held on to win in 47.91. Olympic champion Angelo Taylor (USA) recorded a season's best in third.

Croatian Sandra Perkovic arrived in Rome in decent form, having recorded 67.96m in Croatia back in February. The European Champion won the competition in the second round with 65.56m while Yarelis Barrios (CUB) and Nadine Muller (GER) finished second and third respectively. Perkovic now leads the Diamond Race with eight points while Dani Samuels (AUS) remains in fourth on one point.

In their first head-to-head of the evening, American pair Allyson Felix and Sanya Richards-Ross faced each other in the 400m which has traditionally been the reigning world champion Richards-Ross's specialist event. However in her absence last year Felix dominated the event and she showed her class again in Rome, beating a loaded field in a new world-lead time of 49.82.

USA finished 1-2-3 in the 100m hurdles and Sally Pearson may be interested to see that Lolo Jones is still struggling for form. Jones started well but hit the seventh hurdle hard, which saw her pull-up. Reigning Olympic champion Dawn Harper came through strong to win in a season's best of 12.70, whilst Diamond Race leader Kellie Wells finished behind her and Danielle Carruthers came in third.

Meanwhile, one of Steve Hooker's main competitors, Renaud Lavillenie (FRA), recovered from a poor performance in Doha to dominate the pole vault. He was the only pole vaulter to go clear at their first attempt of 5.42m and the Frenchman flew from then on in. He cleared 5.82m with ease and set a world lead as a result. Meanwhile Germany's Malte Mohr was ten centimetres lower in second and Maksym Mazuryk (UKR) came third.

While in the javelin Kim Mickle may have had an eye on the field where European and Olympic champion Barbora Spotakova (CZE) struggled until the final round, when she managed to edge into the top three. Although not an official Diamond League event in Rome, Mariya Abakumova (RUS) threw an impressive 65.40m.

The Samsung Diamond League now moves to Eugene (USA), with Australian 1500m record holder Ryan Gregson set to take to the start line in the B mile for his first individual hit out since recovering from stress fractures to his foot.

To view and download full results from the Samsung Diamond League in Rome, please click here.

With thanks to Zarah Al-Kudcy

Athletics Australia – – News