Monday, February 23, 2009
GRAND CAYMAN (AP) -- World 100-meter champion Yohan Blake ran the year's second-fastest time Wednesday night, winning the Cayman Invitational in 9.84 seconds in an early tuneup for the London Olympics.
Only Usain Bolt -- Blake's training partner in their home country of Jamaica -- has run faster this year. Bolt won a meet in Kingston in 9.82 on Saturday night.
Blake won last year's 100 at world championships after Bolt was disqualified for a false start. The two aren't expected to square off in the 100 until Jamaica's Olympic trials at the end of June, and barring something unexpected, they should be the favorites in London. Blake had run a 9.90 earlier this season. "I'm very pleased with my time," he said. "In fact, it has put me ahead in my preparations for London. I'm looking forward to my next race."
His next race is June 9 in New York. Bolt, meanwhile, will race May 31 at a Diamond League meet in Rome.
Finishing second Wednesday was another Jamaican, Michael Frater, who crossed in 10.05. Keston Bledman of Trinidad and Tobago finished third in 10.06.
In the women's 100, American world champion Carmelita Jeter won in 11.04, beating Jeneba Tarmoh by 0.09 seconds.
The meet was organised by Cydonie Mothersill of the Cayman Islands, the 34-year-old champion of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, who won the 200 in 23.51.
Jamaica's Warren Weir won the men's 200 in 20.13. Chris Brown of the Bahamas was the men's 400 winner in 45.14, and Jamaica's Novelene Williams-Mills won the women's 400 in 50.35.
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