EUGENE, Oregon, (CMC) – Veronica Campbell-Brown raced to a world-leading time to win the 100 metres but Barbadian World champion hurdler Ryan Brathwaite’s poor form continued when he finished last in the Prefontaine Classic, the sixth meet of the lucrative IAAF Diamond League here Saturday. The fleet-footed Jamaican stunned the field with a clocking of 10.78 seconds as she sped home ahead of compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser who crossed the line in an impressive season-best 10.82.
American Carmelita Jeter, impressive in the world this year, was forced to settle for third in another season-best 10.83 seconds.
Brathwaite, meanwhile, who won gold at the World Championships in Berlin last year, was dead last in the 110 metres hurdles as American David Oliver carved out a world-leading 12.90 seconds.
It was the 28-year-old Campbell-Brown who took the spotlight, however. Running out of lane three, she leapt to a great start and despite a strong challenge from Fraser in lane four, finished strongly to clinch the win.
“God has been so good. I’m so excited. I’ve been waiting five years for this day to run faster than 10.85 and the day has finally come and I’m so happy,” said an elated Campbell-Brown moments afterward.
“I have a great team. My coach and I have been working on my start. I think it’s coming together and I’m so thankful to God right now.
“I’m going to keep training hard and see if I can keep lowering that. I’m so overwhelmed with joy.”
Jamaican Sherone Simpson was sixth in a time of 11.14 seconds while the British Virgin Islands’ Tahesia Harrigan was seventh in a season-best time of 11.16 seconds. Veteran Bahamian Chandra Sturrup was last in 11.19 seconds.
There was similar disappointment for the 22-year-old Brathwaite who has this season failed to regain the lofty heights he reached in the German capital last year.
Running out of lane four, Brathwaite cleared the first two hurdles almost in tandem with Oliver but faded badly in the middle stages to trail in last as the American also equalled the national record.
In the men’s 200 metres, American Walter Dix edged compatriot Tyson Gay in the 200 metres in a race missing World and Olympic champion Jamaican Usain Bolt.
The 24-year-old clocked an impressive 19.72 seconds to spoil Gay’s return from injury, setting a new meet record in the process.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Richard Thompson finished fifth in 20.48 with the Netherland Antilles’ Churandy Martina seventh in 20.52 seconds.
In the women’s 400 metres, Jamaica Shericka Williams was third in a season-best 50.31 seconds behind winner American Allyson Felix who clocked 50.27 seconds.
Trinidadian Josanne Lucas, meanwhile, also clinched bronze in the 400m hurdles in 55.08 seconds, with American Lashinda Demus winning in a meet-record time of 53.0