Birmngham Grand Prix: Kaliese Spencer and Kirani James ease to victory

Kaliese Spencer

Birmingham, Aug 25 (IANS/CMC) Jamaican Kaliese Spencer raced to her second fastest time of the year, while Grenada's Olympic champion Kirani James also cruised, as they racked up wins in the Birmingham Grand Prix. Spencer clocked 53.80 seconds to take her fifth Diamond League victory of the campaign at the Alexander Stadium Sunday night, beating British runner Eilidh Child into second in 54.89, reports CMC.

Czech Denisa Rosolova crossed the line third in a time of 55.65. Spencer led from the outset and though chased down by Child, held her nerve over the last 200 metres to complete an impressive victory.

The win for Spencer left her as by far the most dominant 400m hurdler in the world this year and she was understandably elated.

"I'm very pleased to be victorious. I've been winning most of my races so it's definitely been a good season," Spencer said. James, meanwhile, also grabbed a share of the headlines, destroying his field to win in a time of 44.59 seconds, well ahead of the second placed Isaac Makwala of Botswana who came home in 45.02.

James's main rival, American Lashawn Merritt, was not in the lineup.

In the women's 100 metres, Jamaican Kerron Stewart out-leaned five sprinters to claim victory in 11.22 seconds, while in the corresponding men's event - a non-Diamond League race - Commonwealth sprint champion Kemar Bailey-Cole of Jamaica edged out fellow countryman Nesta Carter in 10.08 seconds.

Jamaican Nickel Ashmeade was also in winners row, capturing the 200 metres in 20.33 seconds over Panamanian Alonso Edward (20.35).