Richards sets fastest time of the year in 400 at Bislett Games
By Stephan Nasstrom, APFriday, July 3, 2009
Richards extends Golden League streak
OSLO — Sanya Richards of the United States won the Bislett Games 400 meters in 49.23 seconds on Friday for the fastest women’s time of the year.
Richards, who has not lost a 400 in the Golden League since Zurich 2004, also tied the Bislett Stadium record that Czech Tatjana Kocembova set in 1983.
Shericka Williams, the Olympic silver medalist from Jamaica, finished second in 49.98.
Reigning Olympic and world champion Christine Ohuruogu of Britain was sixth in 51.19 in her first major race of the season.
In another early women’s event, Claire Gibson of Britain won the 800 in 2:01.42.
Renny Quow of Trinidad and Tobago took the men’s 400 in 45.18, edging France’s Leslie Djhone by 0.19.
Kenyans Collins Cheboi and Richard Bartale won the men’s 1,500 and 3,000 in 3:36.24 and 7:50.58 respectively.
The Bislett meet is the second of six in the Golden League series.
Five events for men and five for women will be part of the Golden League’s $1 million jackpot.
The men compete in the 100 meters, 400, 3,000, 5,000, 110 hurdles and javelin, while the women contest the 100, 400, 100 hurdles, high jump and pole vault.
Any athlete that wins those events at each of the six Golden League meetings will claim at least part of the $1 million jackpot.
If no one wins all six of their events, athletes with five victories will share $500,000.
