Stars

Bolt edges Powell, Americans dominate in Rome

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-05-27 09:20

Usain Bolt of Jamaica (C), Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago (L) and Christophe Lemaitre of France compete in the men's 100 metres event at the Golden Gala IAAF Diamond League at the Olympic stadium in Rome May 26, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Devastating sprint

In the men's 400 metres, Christopher Brown of the Bahamas produced a devastating sprint in lane 7 to win in 45.16 seconds with Jamaica's Jermaine Gonzales (45.43) and Belgian Jonathan Borlee (45.53) trailing in his wake.

Louis Van Zyl continued his fine start to the season with a second series victory in the 400 hurdles. Leading from start to finish, the South African won in 47.91 with Briton David Greene second (48.24) and American Angelo Taylor third (48.66).

"I changed my training a lot this year," said Van Zyl. "I sold my motorbike, I have a diet and I sleep enough. I finally feel like the real professional athlete."

In the men's 5,000, Ethiopia's Imane Merga set the fastest time this year, 12:54.21, in the cooler late evening conditions after breaking from a five-strong group in the final straight to beat Kenyans Isaiah Kiplangat Koech and Vincent Kiprop Chepkok.

British long jumper Phillips Idowu's third-round leap of 17.59 metres -- the longest this year -- was enough to secure a convincing win in the men's event over Sweden's Christian Olsson (17.29) and Cuban Alexis Copello (17.14).

In a close women's 200, American Bianca Knight kept her cool in lane 2 to win in 22.64 seconds ahead of Jamaican Kerron Stewart (22.74) and Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie (22.76).