Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Friday 9 June 2017

De Grasse dominates 200, Merritt 1st DL win since kidney op

ANDREW DAMPF onds behind.
AP Sports Writer Dibaba’s older sister,
ROME (AP) — Canadian Tirunesh, set the world re-
sprinter Andre De Grasse cord of 14:11.15 in 2008.
blew past the field to post There was also a world-
a dominating win in the leading time in the wom-
200 meters Thursday at the en’s 1,500, with Sifan Has-
Golden Gala Pietro Men- san of the Netherlands run-
nea meet. ning 3:56.22.
For Aries Merritt, victory in “I did not push and I did not
the 110 hurdles marked his start too fast,” Hassan said.
first Diamond League victo- “It was not so hard for me.
ry since a kidney transplant On the last 20 meters I was
two years ago. pushing myself.”
Meanwhile, reigning Olym- Dutch sprinter Dafne Schip-
pic and world champion pers won the women’s 100
Caterine Ibarguen of Co- in 10.99.
lombia was handed only “The more starts I have the
her second loss in the triple faster I get,” said Schippers,
jump since 2012. the Olympic silver medalist
At 20.01 seconds, De in the 200. “I’m preparing
Grasse established a per- myself for both distances,
sonal season best, keeping Canada’s Andre De Grasse, center, crosses the finish line to win a men’s 200m ahead of Italy’s 100 and 200.”
him on track to take over Filippo Tortu, left, and France’s Christophe Lemaitre during the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea athlet- It went down to the final
the world title from Usain ics meeting, in Rome’s Olympic stadium, Thursday, June 8, 2017. throw for Thomas Rohler to
Bolt, who does not plan to Associated Press win the javelin competi-
compete in the 200 at the home and stay relaxed,” “Bolt is a big target for me,” cused and the results will tion at 90.06, slightly off the
world championships in De Grasse said. “My coach De Grasse added. “It’s very come.” 93.90 he achieved in Doha,
London in August. told me to just hit it and to exciting to be part of the Olympic silver medalist Yu- Qatar, last month — which
De Grasse already took bring it home well.” young generation coming limar Rojas of Venezuela was the longest throw in 20
silver behind Bolt at last Ameer Webb of the United after Usain.” won the triple jump with a years. Fellow German Jo-
year’s Rio de Janeiro Olym- States finished third in 20.33 Merritt, the 2012 Olympic leap of 14.84 meters while hannes Vetter finished sec-
pics, pushing the Jamaican and 18-year-old Italian Filip- champion from the United Ibarguen finished second ond at 88.15.
great to his limit in the semi- po Tortu crossed fourth just States, clocked 13.13 to at 14.78. “This team is really strong
finals. one hundredth off the po- edge Orlando Ortega of Ibarguen’s only other loss in and anyone of us can win
This time, De Grasse’s chief dium. This was De Grasse’s Spain by five hundredths in five years came in Birming- these competitions,” Rohler
competition came from final 200 before the Cana- the hurdles sprint. ham, England, a year ago. said.
Olympic bronze medal- dian trials and worlds. “It was a bit sloppy,” Mer- Hellen Obiri of Kenya flirted Also, Olympic champion
ist Christophe Lemaitre of “My aim is to get three ritt said. “I made many mis- with the world record in the Consesius Kipruto of Kenya
France, who was the run- medals, like in Rio, definite- takes, hit a lot of hurdles but 5,000, clocking a world- established a new world
ner-up in 20.29 — several ly,” De Grasse said. “We my speed is getting better. leading 14:18.37 while Ethi- leading time in the 3,000
strides behind. have a strong relay team After 2015 it was tough but I opian rival Genzebe Diba- steeplechase at 8:04.63 —
“This was a relaxed race and I also hope to win a fi- am here and I am healthy, ba finished a disappointing 1.35 seconds off his winning
for me. I wanted to come nal in London. so I just need to stay fo- sixth — more than 20 sec- time in Rio.q

WNBA Roundup

Griner’s career-high 38 leads

Mercury by Fever 98-90 in OT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — lation, but Erica Wheeler ana (3-5), which lost its first
Brittney Griner scored eight answered with a basket home game of the season.
of Phoenix’s first 10 points in in traffic to tie it. Phoenix’s Briann January injured her
overtime and finished with Diana Taurasi didn’t hit the left ankle early in the first
a career-high 38 to help the rim on a contested 3-point- quarter and did not return.
Mercury beat the Indiana er and Wheeler missed a LIBERTY 76, DREAM 61
Fever 98-90 on Wednesday long jumper just before the In New York, Tina Charles
night. buzzer. had 18 points and 15 re-
Griner, averaging 22 points, Taurasi added 17 points bounds while Kiah Stokes
was 9 of 13 from the field for Phoenix (5-3). Griner added a career-best 17
in the first half for 23 points, grabbed nine rebounds boards to help the Liberty
but she played limited min- and her first of two blocks beat the Atlanta Dream
utes in the third quarter be- moved her into sole posses- 76-61 in the matinee game.
cause of foul trouble. sion of eighth place on the New York held Atlanta to
Her hook shot with three WNBA career list. just 27 percent shooting, New York Liberty center Tina Charles (31) shoots with Atlanta
defenders around her gave Wheeler scored a career- including the Dream going Dream center Elizabeth Williams (1) defending in the second
Phoenix a 78-76 lead with high 24 points and Candice 1-for-13 from behind the half of an WNBA basketball game in New York, Wednesday,
45.6 seconds left in regu- Dupree added 23 for Indi- 3-point line.q June 7, 2017.
Associated Press