media_artricles :: 2017

Walcott, Ahye get bronze at Rome Diamond League

Javelin thrower Keshorn Walcott and sprinter Michelle Lee Ahye both produced impressive performances that earned them bronze medals at their respective events at yesterday's Diamond League in Rome, Italy.

Walcott, an Olympic Gold and bronze medallist produced a season's best throw on his fourth throw of the competition to land a distance of 86.61 metres for third.

The event was won by Olympic champion, German Thomas Rohler who hurled the spear almost the length of the field for the gold medal in 90.06 metres and continue the form that earned him Gold in Rio de Janeiro.

Another German Johannes Vetter stole the runner-up position and silver medal after landing a distance of 88.15 metres, a mere two metres behind the eventual winner of the event.

Walcott who fell short of defending his title in Rio last year, got his campaign going yesterday by hurling the javelin a distance of 82.01 metres. He improved on this on his second attempt, completing a distance of 84.02 metres, before pulling off his bronze medal performance throw, which bettered even his winning throw at the London Olympic Games back in 2012.

Lee Ahye on the otherhand, was also on fire on the night in lane six, storming down the tracks in a quick 11.07 seconds in the 100 metre dash to be third-best on the night. Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands claimed the win and gold medal in 10.99 seconds while Marie-Josee Ta Lou of Cote d'Ivoire was second best for the silver.

Lee Ahye's time of 11.07 was a long shot away from her personal best time of 10.58 seconds but was good enough to finish behind Ta Lou who was fourth in Brazil last year and Schippers, who despite her efforts in races that led up to the final, was fifth in the end.

Among the men Canada's Andre De Grasse provided proof of his intentions to beat World and Olympic champion Usain Bolt at the World Championships in August in London when he warmed up with a victory in the 200 metres final in Rome.

The Canadian was hardly challenged running in lane six, as he cruised to victory in 20.01 second and had the time to look on as France Christophe secured second in 20.29 seconds. Ameer Webb of the United States was third in the half-lap event in 20.33 seconds.

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