Athletics

Surprise win in Kenyan trials earns Kiprop London 2012 place

By Mike Rowbottom

Kiprop and_Masai_June_3June 1 - Wilson Kiprop (pictured far left) produced the fastest 10,000 metres time in the world this year, 27min 1.98sec, to earn a place in the London 2012 team after surprisingly winning a race that served as the official Kenyan Olympic trial at the Samsung Diamond League meeting in Eugene, Oregon.

Pistorius not so glorious after 400m crashing defeat in Ostrava

By Mike Rowbottom 

Oscar Pistorius_May_26May 25 - South Africa's double amputee Oscar Pistorius (pictured left and below, right) endured a hugely anti-climactic run at the Golden Spike meeting in Ostrava tonight as he finished last in the 400 metres, almost two seconds adrift of his Olympic target time of 45.70sec.

Bolt "disappointed" with 10.04sec Golden Spike 100m win

By Mike Rowbottom

Usain Bolt__May_26May 25 - Usain Bolt (pictured left and below, centre) duly won the 100 metres at the Golden Spike meeting in Ostrava on Friday, but was "disappointed" with his time of 10.04sec, the slowest he has ever produced at the distance outside qualifying heats and well short of the 9.82 clocked in Jamaica on May 5 which currently heads the season's rankings.

Pistorius' blades could allow him to outrun able-bodied sprinters, fears Merritt

By Tom Degun at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas

LaShawn Merritt_15_MayMay 15 - Reigning Olympic 400 metres champion LaShawn Merritt admits that he has concerns about the prosthetic legs used by four-times Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius – and has urged the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to keep a close eye on the situation to ensure the South African does not enjoy an unfair advantage over able-bodied athletes.

Bringing big events to US will reverse decline in athletics popularity, believes sprint star

By Tom Degun at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas

Allyson Felix_14_MayMay 15 - Allyson Felix, America's Olympic sprint triple medallist, has admitted that track and field is suffering a major decline in popularity in the United States – but claimed she hopes the country is able to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games or the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships in order to boost the sport's exposure.

"I am back" declares American drugs cheat Gatlin

By Mike Rowbottom in Doha

Justin Gatlin_wins_100m_in_Doha_May_11_2012May 11 - Unexpected 100 metres victories by Justin Gatlin and Allyson Felix in the opening Samsung Diamond League meeting of the season here offered early evidence that Walter Dix, also a winner in the 200m in 20.02sec, may have been right to warn before this event that United States sprinters, who have spent four years trailing their Jamaican rivals, are due for a "breakout" year.