Reigning women’s 200m World Champion Dafne Schippers is likely to break 22s soon after racing to a World Lead (WL) of 22.02s at the IAAF World Challenge meeting in Hengelo in the Netherlands.
The Dutch woman improved on her former WL and Season’s Best (SB) of 22.25s set in Gainsville, Florida last month. Great Britain’s Jodie Williams (23.06s) and Tiffany Townsend (23.12s) followed in 2nd and 3rd respectively. South Africa’s Allysa Conley was 4th in 23.17s.
Schippers has an SB of 10.83s in the 100m, which puts her at No.2 on the 2016 world rankings. She posted the time at the Doha Diamond League where she finished 2nd behind Tori Bowie who set an outstanding WL of 10.80s.
A week earlier, Schippers had competed at the Great City Games in Manchester where she won the 100m with a wind-aided time of 10.94s, with Tianna Bartoletta and Laura Muller following in 11.19s and 11.43s.
It is not yet certain if the reigning European Champion will focus on both events ahead of the Olympic Games in Rio after doing the double in Beijing last year where she won GOLD and Silver respectively.
Homeboy Churandy Martina won the men’s 100m in Hengelo in 10.12s, finishing ahead of Ghana’s Sean Safo-Antwi (10.24s) and Ramon Gittens (10.24s), with Kim Collins finishing in 4th place with a time of 10.28s.
Asha Philip clocked the fastest time overall in the women’s 100m heats, winning Heat 2 in 11.27s, while Yongli Wei (11.38s), Daryll Neita (11.43s) and Bianca Williams (11.45s) followed in the overall rankings. China’s Manqi Ge won Heat 1 in 11.60s.
Javon Francis consolidated on his victory in Ostrava with another win in Hengelo, winning the men’s 400m in 45.35s, while Liemarvin Bonevacia (46.21s) and Jeremy Wariner (46.33s) followed in 2nd and 3rd.
In the women’s race, Anyika Onuora was the woman to beat after returning a time of 52.20s to secure the win. Justyna Swiety of Poland was 2nd in 52.31s, with Marie Gayot finishing 3rd in 52.63s.
Phylicia George emerged winner in the 100m Hurdles with her time of 12.88s, after European Champion Tiffany Porter failed to make it to the final, finishing a distant 8th in Heat 1 in 14.23s.
The German pair of Cindy Roleder (12.98s) and Nadine Hildebrand (13.05s) placed 2nd and 3rd respectively. Meanwhile Gregor Traber (13.46s), Lawrence Clarke (13.50s) and Jeff Porter (13.51s) were the Top 3 finishers in the 110 Hurdles.
Chris Carter made a leap of 17.12m to win the men’s Triple Jump, as Nigeria’s Tosin Oke set an SB of 16.87m to follow in 2nd place. Nelson Evora of Portugal was 3rd with a mark of 16.72m.
The men’s Discus throw was dominated by USA’s Rodney Brown with his mark of 65.70m. He was followed by Lukas Weisshaidinger (64.55m) and Daniel Jasinski (63.84m), while South African Victor Hogan settled for 4th with his throw of 63.70m.
