• Switzerland edition
DIAMOND LEAGUE

Aman eclipses Rudisha as Bolt and Blake coast

Published: 31 Aug 2012 08:54 GMT+02:00 | Print version
Updated: 31 Aug 2012 08:54 GMT+02:00

Jamaican sprint duo Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake dominated the 100 and 200m at the Diamond League meet in Zurich on Thursday, but Kenyan 800m star David Rudisha was upstaged by Ethiopian novice Mohammed Aman.

In a high-quality night of action featuring 14 Olympic champions, training partners Bolt and Blake set new meeting records of 19.66 and 9.76 seconds in the 200 and 100m respectively.

Fresh from his second successive triple gold haul at the Olympics, Bolt came around the bend into the final stretch just ahead of compatriot Nickel
Ashmeade on his inside.

And then the imposing 26-year-old, also the world record holder in both sprint events, switched on the afterburners in his drive phase to ensure a
comfortable win in his favoured event.

"Running after the Olympics is much more fun, it is less stress," said Bolt. "Now I have one more race (in Brussels on September 7th) until the end of the season and I am looking forward to it.

"During the season, you push yourself a lot and it's only at the end that you realize how tired you are."

Blake overcame a false start by top US sprinter Tyson Gay to hold his nerve in a 100m raced in chilly, wet conditions at a packed Letzigrund Stadium.

The 22-year-old, who won double sprint silver behind Bolt in the London Games and is currently the second fastest man in the world alongside Gay
(after racing 9.69sec in Lausanne last week), rocketed out of his blocks at the second time of asking to power through the line.

Compatriot Nesta Carter was second in 9.95sec, with American Ryan Bailey (9.97) in third.

"I am not at all surprised that after the Olympics I am coming out so strong and so fast. It's because my coach has a plan for me," said Blake of
Glen Mills, who also coaches Bolt.

"Next year I can be even better," he warned.

But there was disappointment for Rudisha, the blazing two-lap specialist who was bidding to better his own world record of 1min 40.91sec he set when winning 800m gold at the London Games earlier this month.

With all talk of the record bid, no one had counted on the kick of 18-year-old Aman, who finished sixth at the Olympics but who importantly last
year became the first and last man to defeat Rudisha since 2009.

Rudisha's pacemaker missed his first lap target by more than 1sec, and with any chance of a world record completely out of the window, the 23-year-old Kenyan world champion found himself in front but in a real dogfight with Aman, who kicked as the duo rounded the last bend.

Aman held on for a convincing win in a personal best of 1:42.53, with Rudisha timing 1:42.81.

"The race was good, really," a magnanimous Rudisha said. "The race was fast and the winner achieved a 1:42.5 time and new personal best.

"My legs felt tired and I cannot run well if the weather is not good."

Aman left his Kenyan rival in no doubt that it would not be all plain sailing for him in the two-lap race next season.

"This was the final Diamond League race and therefore a strong one," Aman said. "I am very happy and hopefully next year I will beat the world record."

One Olympic champion to also shine was Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who rebounded from two successive losses to Carmelita Jeter in Lausanne and Birmingham to easily trump the American in the women's 100m in 10.83sec.

Jeter clocked 10.97sec with teammate and 200m specialist Allyson Felix finishing third (11.02).

Other London champions to win were France's Renaud Lavillenie in the men's pole vault (5.70m), Croat Sandra Perkovic in the women's discus (63.97m), American Sanya Richards-Ross in the women's 400m (50.21sec) and Russian Ivan Ukhov in the men's high jump (2.31m).

But American Christian Taylor (triple jump) and Felix Sanchez (400m hurdles) were both eclipsed by veterans, Italy's Fabrizio Donato (17.29m) and
American Angelo Taylor (48.29sec) respectively.

And American Brittney Reese could only finish ninth in the women's long jump, retiring after aggravating a stress fracture in her ankle.

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines

Swiss to face Sweden in world ice hockey final

Switzerland will play hosts Sweden in the final of the world ice hockey championships on Sunday after each side registered a 3-0 semi-final victory over the United States and Finland respectively. READ () »

Thieves pinch Swiss jewels from Cannes
US actress Eva Longoria poses on Friday at the 66th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes. Photo: AFP

Thieves pinch Swiss jewels from Cannes

Jewellery worth more than $1 million made by Swiss luxury watchmaker and jeweller Chopard and due to be loaned to stars walking the red carpet at the Cannes film festival were stolen from a hotel, French police said on Friday. READ () »

Chinese premier set to visit Switzerland
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. Photo: AFP

Chinese premier set to visit Switzerland

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang embarks this weekend on his first foreign trip since taking office, with a stop in Switzerland on the itinerary and free trade talks between the two countries close to completion. READ () »

Sally Ann band bows out of Eurovision contest
The former Salvation Army band, Takasa, shorn of their uniforms. Photo:Eurovision

Sally Ann band bows out of Eurovision contest

The Salvation Army band carrying Switzerland’s hopes into the Eurovision Song Contest was vanquished on Thursday night in Malmö, Sweden. READ () »

Over a third of Geneva workers live elsewhere
Photo: Romano

Over a third of Geneva workers live elsewhere

More than a third of Geneva’s active working population lives outside the canton, with the majority residing in neighbouring France and the rest largely in the canton of Vaud, according to a report issued on Thursday. READ () »

Cycling union's head wins Swiss backing
World Cycling Centre in Aigle, canton of Vaud, home to the UCI. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Cycling union's head wins Swiss backing

International Cycling Union (UCI) president Pat McQuaid can count on the support of the Swiss federation in his bid for re-election, the sport's global governing body said on Thursday. READ () »

Swiss advance to world hockey semifinals
Swiss goalie Martin Gerber prepares to celebrate victory with team-mates. Photo: Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images

Swiss advance to world hockey semifinals

Switzerland headed to the world ice hockey championship semifinals after a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic on Thursday in Stockholm. READ () »

Chairman purged from Glencore Xstrata board
John Bond, just one of several former Xtrata executives sacked from Glencore Xstrata board. Photo: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP

Chairman purged from Glencore Xstrata board

The chairman of newborn mining and commodities giant Glencore Xstrata, John Bond, was on Thursday axed by its annual general meeting in Zug, just weeks after the Swiss-based group was created via a merger of two key players. READ () »

Kenyan nominated to head UN trade body

Kenyan nominated to head UN trade body

United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon has nominated former Kenyan minister and member of parliament Mukhisa Kituyi to lead the UN's Geneva-based trade and development body when the current chief steps down at the end of August. READ () »

Richemont plans higher dividend after profit rise
Richemont headquarters in Geneva. Photo: Richemont

Richemont plans higher dividend after profit rise

Geneva-based luxury goods giant Richemont boosted net profit for the 2012-2013 year by 30 percent as expected, with strong performances in its jewellery and watch divisions and by favourable exchange rates, the group said on Thursday. READ () »

Highlights
Furniture Leasing Corporation
Henrik Trygg/imagebank.swede.se
Latest news from The Local in Sweden

More news from Sweden at thelocal.se

Latest news from The Local in Germany

More news from Germany at thelocal.de

Latest news from The Local in France

More news from France at thelocal.fr

Latest news from The Local in Norway

More news from Norway at thelocal.no