Aviva London Wrap: Kirani James, David Rudisha , Sanya Richards Ross-Highlights from Crystal Palace

If you can put away the disappointment of not seeing Asafa Powell who pulled out due an injury scare, we can safely say Aviva London grand prix was a success. The two day meet, which served as a final testing ground before the world championships, delivered several meet records, personal and season bests. However for me the biggest revelation came from the relatively unknown Grenadian Kirani James.

In his first senior meet and Diamond League race, the 18 year old (hailed as the Usain Bolt of the 400m) outclassed an impressive line up to win in a world lead of 44.61. James looked at ease particularly in the crucial backstretch, where he motored past a tiring Jermain Gonzales. Gonzales managed to hold on for second in 44.85 while Bahamian Chris Brown 45.04 grabbed third.



Kaliese Spencer was absolutely delightful to watch in the Women`s 400m hurdles. The tall Jamaican clearly in the form of her life, produced a brilliant run to clock a new personal best of 52.79. This is the fastest time for the event in two years and brings her to 8th place on the world all-time list. Spencer who dominated the event from the start, cleared the last hurdle well ahead of the field and sprinted to the line. Her nearest competitor, Olympic and world champion Melaine Walker was second in 53.90 while double UK champion Perri Shakes -Drayton ran well for third with a season's best of 54.62

The men's 800m was quite thrilling. Record holder David Rudisha romped home to victory in a meet record of 1:42:91sec beating Sudanese Abubaker Kaki who clocked 1:43:13. This was their first head to head meeting of the season and though Rudisha won convincingly, it was the first I've seen him win with such a small margin of only 0.22 seconds. I suspect we will have a true clash on our hands in Daegu. In the women's equivalent Kenia Sinclair who may have gone out too fast in the first lap, suffered her first loss of the season at the hands of Britain's Jenny Meadows. The 2009 world bronze medalist produced a brilliant kick around the final bend to overtake Sinclair in a season's best of 1:58:60sec.


Sanya Richards returns to winning ways

400m world champion Sanya Richards-Ross ran a sizzling 49.66 seconds for victory, her first sub 50 clocking for the year signaling a well-awaited return to form . The look on her face says it all, prior to this Richards-Ross had not won a race all season, she finally looked like her old self again taking command from start to finish. Jamaican Rosemarie Whyte ran the race of her life to finish second in a time of 49.84 her first sub 50 clocking ever. Her team mate olympic bronze medalist Novlene Williams-Mills was third. This race no doubt sounds a warning to all who thought the title in Daegu would be taken easily.

Carmelita Jeter notched yet another win under her belt in the women's 100m, clocking 10.93. In her usual strong finish, Jeter surged ahead of the field in the last 20 metres. Olympic and world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce rocketed out of the blocks with her customary strong start, however was unable to hold it to the line. In the end she finished third in 11.10, both Jeter and Trinidad and Tobago's Kelly-Ann Baptist 10.97 surpassed her in the final steps of the race.

Honourable mentions Go To:

USA's Jason Richardson for matching Olympic 110 hurdles champion Dayron Robles stride for stride eventually finishing second in a personal best of 13.08

Jamaica's Yohan Blake for 10.95 to win the men's 100m in a head wind of 1.6 metres per second.

Germany`s Christina Obergfoll for prevailing in an epic Javelin battle with Olympic champion Barbora Spotakova. Obergfoll won with a spectacular final throw of 65.73 metres, claiming a meet record in the process