Yohan Blake experienced a setback on his return to full fitness on Friday, pulling up during the 100m at the Glasgow Grand Prix, stumbling off the track and leaving in a wheelchair.
Although missing much of last season with hamstring troubles, the double Olympic silver medalist told the BBC that only cramps prevented him finishing the race, not something more serious.
However, Blake’s fresh discomfort did show the Scottish public just why he has already declared he will not be returning to Glasgow later this month for the Commonwealth Games.
Photo: AFP
Fellow Jamaican Nickel Ashmeade, who is planning to come back for the games, won the sprint in 9.97 seconds ahead of the US’ Mike Rodgers.
“I came here to execute and then the time speaks for itself, that’s all I can do,” said Ashmeade, whose compatriot, Nesta Carter, came was third.
The 24-year-old Ashmeade will contest the 200m event at the Monaco Diamond League meet next week before returning to Scotland for the multisport gathering of 71 former British Empire countries. The pitch has been ripped out at Scotland’s national soccer stadium, Hampden Park, to facilitate track and field. The Diamond League meet was shifted from London to help Glasgow prepare for the Games and because the British capital’s Olympic Stadium is being overhauled.
Unlike the packed crowds that welcomed Usain Bolt to London last July, the Olympic great chose not to participate —announcing the decision in a tweet on Friday — and there were thousands of empty seats in Glasgow.
Abdominal pains forced Mo Farah to withdraw and Hagos Gebrhiwet of Ethiopia won the 5,000m in the Olympic champion’s absence.
The most notable home success came with Will Sharman clocking 13.21 seconds in the 110m hurdles as Jamaica’s Hansle Parchment, who set the year’s fastest time on Monday, was forced back into fifth.
US triumphs came when Tianna Bartoletta leapt 6.98n in the long jump, Francena McCorory clocked 49.93 seconds in the 400m, Reese Hoffa’s shot put reached 21.67m and Gia Lewis-Smallwood threw 67.59m in the discus.
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