Betway

Olympic champion Elaine Thompson overcame a sluggish start to win the 100 metres at the Paris Diamond League and maintain her unbeaten record this season.

The Jamaican runner clocked a winning 10.91 seconds at Stade Charlety to hold off Marie-Josee Ta Lou of Ivory Coast (10.96) after powering through in the last 40 metres.

“The result is not bad especially after two false starts. But this was a great preparation for the world championships,” Thompson said.

“Coming straight from the Jamaican trials, it was important to get back to blocks, to stay focused and get as much rest as possible. In this moment I am exactly where I want to be, feeling good, feeling excited with one month to go to the world championships.”

In an upset, Olympic 110-metre hurdles champion Omar McLeod of Jamaica lost the Diamond League final to countryman Ronald Levy, who won in a personal best of 13.05.

“Things are looking good before the London championships,” Levy said. “I know what to do at the championships now.”

Levy finished ahead of Britain’s Andrew Pozzi and Frenchman Garfield Darien, with McLeod way back in seventh place in 13.41 after clipping a hurdle.

There were more surprises.

Olympic champion Ruth Jebet, who broke the women’s 3,000-metre steeplechase world record by six seconds at the Paris meet last year, fell in the last kilometre this time around and crossed the line in only fourth place.

Beatrice Chepkoech won in nine minutes, 1.69 seconds in a Kenya 1-2-3 ahead of Hyvin Kiyeng and Celliphine Chepteek Chespol.

With a last lap of 54 seconds, Ethiopia’s Muktar Edris won the men’s 3,000 in 7:32.31 to hand Kenyan Ronald Kwemoi his first defeat of the season.

Near the end of the meet, Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands beat Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon of Kenya in the women’s 1,500, winning in 3:57.10 with Kipyegon clocking 3:57.71.

Sam Kendricks of the United States beat Renaud Lavillenie of France – the indoor world record-holder and a multiple world and Olympic medallist – to win the pole vault.

Source: sbs.com.au