Jamaican Parchment shatters national record in Paris

Paris, July 6 (IANS/CMC) Jamaican Hansle Parchment set a new national record in the men's sprint hurdles when he raced to a world-leading 12.94 seconds, to win at the Paris Diamond League here Saturday.

The Olympic bronze medallist produced a late burst to stun a quality field at Stade de France, becoming the first Jamaican hurdler to dip below 13 seconds and only the 16th sprinter in the history of the event, reports CMC.

Only last year in Eugene, Parchment clocked 13.05 seconds to establish the old national record.

Frenchman Pascal Martinot-Lagarde, who won in Lausanne Thursday, finished second in a personal best 13.05 seconds while Orlando Ortega finished third in a season-best 13.10 seconds.

World champion, American David Oliver, trailed in fifth in a disappointing 13.26 seconds.

Running out of lane six, Parchment started slowly as Frenchman Dimitri Bascou rushed to an early lead. Parchment began to surge at the half-way point as Martinot-Lagarde, in lane five, and Ortega on the outside, went with him.

However, Parchment cleared the last two hurdles in front, to reach the line first.

In the men's 100 metres, Trinidadian Richard Thompson finished second in 10.08 seconds, as American Mike Rogers won in ten seconds flat.

Evergreen Kittitian sprinter Kim Collins, at age 38, clocked a season-best 10.10 seconds to be third. The Jamaican duo of Nesta Carter (10.12) and Kemar Bailey-Cole (10.14) were fourth and fifth respectively.

In the women's 200 metres, there was another disappointment for World champion Shelly-Ann Fraser, who finished fifth to continue her recent poor form.

She could only clock 22.63 seconds as Nigerian Blessing Okagbare claimed victory in a time of 22.32 seconds, ahead of American Allyson Felix in a season-best 22.34.

Bahamian Anthonique Strachan, the reigning World junior sprint champion, was third in 22.54.

Meanwhile, Novlene Williams-Mills suffered a rare loss this season when she finished third in the women's 400 metres in 50.68.

American Sanya Richards-Ross captured the event in 50.10 seconds, with Jamaican Stephenie McPherson second in a season-best 50.40.

--IANS/CMC

vs/gd/