Sanya leads US domination

PARIS – Sanya Richards put her disappointing showing at the United States world athletics trials well and truly behind her with a season’s best time over her preferred 400m at the Golden League meet Friday.

Richards came good in 49.52sec to beat Jamaica’s Novlene Williams (50.29) with Dee Dee Trotter, winner of the US trial, only sixth. On a profitable night for the American contingent another season’s best time of 3:30.54 was set by Alan Webb in the men’s 1500m, the Michigan-born athlete getting up in the dying strides to beat France’s Mehdi Baala.The Stars And Stripes was also flying high after the men’s 400m won by Lashawn Merrit, the 400m hurdles (James Carter), women’s 100m (Torri Edwards) and women’s 100m hurdles.Two other athletes left in the hunt for a slice of the million dollar jackpot on offer for wins in each of the Golden league meets were Finland’s Tero Pitkamaki, who won the javelin with a throw of 89.70m, and Russia’s polevault queen, Yelena Isinbasyeva, who jumped a season’s best 4.91m.In the absence of the injured Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay the men’s 100m went to Derrick Atkins of the Bahamas in 10sec with the United States’ Mark Jelks second in 10.09.Nampa-AFPOn a profitable night for the American contingent another season’s best time of 3:30.54 was set by Alan Webb in the men’s 1500m, the Michigan-born athlete getting up in the dying strides to beat France’s Mehdi Baala.The Stars And Stripes was also flying high after the men’s 400m won by Lashawn Merrit, the 400m hurdles (James Carter), women’s 100m (Torri Edwards) and women’s 100m hurdles.Two other athletes left in the hunt for a slice of the million dollar jackpot on offer for wins in each of the Golden league meets were Finland’s Tero Pitkamaki, who won the javelin with a throw of 89.70m, and Russia’s polevault queen, Yelena Isinbasyeva, who jumped a season’s best 4.91m.In the absence of the injured Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay the men’s 100m went to Derrick Atkins of the Bahamas in 10sec with the United States’ Mark Jelks second in 10.09.Nampa-AFP