• Submitted by: admin
• Sports
• 05 / 15 / 2010

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Yarelis Barrios of Cuba had a great toss to topple world champion in the women's discus at the inaugural IAAF Diamond League which kicked off at the Qatari capital here on Friday.

The 26-year-old world and Olympic silver medallist reached 64.90 meters in the third round to beat world champion Dani Samuels of Australia, whose 64.67 meters was her best effort of the night.

Croatia's European junior champion Sandra Perkovic was third with a toss of 62.33 meters.

In other events of the evening, Blanka Vlasic of Croatia collected her fifth straight high jump victory in Doha, but for the first time, with a clearance of under two metres.

"I'm happy to win the (Diamond Race) points," the Croatian said after her victory at 1.98m.

Vlasic needed a second go at 1.98m before sailing clear, to defeat American Chaunte Howard-Lowe, the early season world leader 2.00m, who cleared the height on her third try. Spaniard Ruth Beitia was a distant third, topping out at 1.94m.

In the women's 200m, Olympic silver medallist Kerron Stewart of Jamaica pulled away from compatriot Sherone Simpson with some 50 metres remaining to win in 22.34, a season' s best.

Simpson clocked 22.64 for second, just two ticks ahead of Cayman Islander Cydonie Mothersill.

In the women's 100m hurdles, Lolo Jones of the United States didn't secure the win until the ninth hurdle when she beat Canada's Priscilla Lopes-Schliep to stop the clock in a windy 12.63 (+2.7).

The men's 400m hurdles went roughly according to plan, with former world champion Bershawn Jackson beating two-time world champion and fellow American Kerron Clement over the final 50 meters for a solid 48.66 win.

Clement clocked 48.882 for second, well ahead of South African L.J. van Zyl (49.59). Olympic champion Angelo Taylor of the United States finished fourth in 49.66.

The 14-meeting IAAF Diamond League continues in Shanghai on 23 May.

Source: Xinhua