Brussels Diamond League: Yohan Blake, Usain Bolt, Danielle Carruthers and Kennesia Bekele

Today's meet in Brussels brought an end to what can only be described as a superb track and field season. There were several fabulous performances but the real shocker was Yohan Blake's jaw dropping 19.26 sec in the men's 200 metres,  the second fastest time EVER.

Don't get me wrong Blakes' victory is not a total surprise, I remember him running 19.78 in Monaco last year, so I did peg him to beat Walter Dix to the  line with maybe a 19.75 or even a 19.73. To say I grossly miscalculated would be putting it mildly. I honestly had to do a double take on the time. This young man stunned the audience and in the process banished Usain Bolt's earlier performance of 9.76 in the 100m to distant memory.

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.

David Oliver, Asafa Powell, Carmelita Jeter: Top Events to watch at Diamond League London

Crystal Palace will be oozing with track and field excitement this week-end as the Aviva London Grand Prix gets underway this Friday. It's the 12th stop in the Samsung Diamond League series and the meet boasts an impressive line up of international stars. Britain's top athletes will also be on display: European 10,000m champion Mo Farrah, triple jumper Phillips Idowu and 400m Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu are all down to compete in their respective events. Here are my top picks:

Men's 110 Hurdles: This contest is being billed as a "David Oliver-Dayron Robles Showdown". The last time the two met in Paris, Robles got the better of Oliver in a spell-binding finish that saw both men clock 13.09 seconds. Oliver also has to be concerned about young American Jason Richardson, who dealt him an unexpected loss in Stockholm. Jamaica's Dwight Thomas, still mourning the loss of his father, is also in the line up.

Usain Bolt, Allyson Felix, David Rudisha: Hot events to watch at Herculis Diamond League

By Tamika Forrester

Usain Bolt

Men’s 100m: Usain Bolt will run his third 100m race of the season. Following the world leading time posted by Asafa Powell, Bolt will seek to better his season best of 10.91. However, he will be challenged by his compatriots Nesta Carter and Michael Frater, who’ve been impressive all season. France's sprint prodigy Christophe Lemaitre will also be in the mix. Lemaitre has taken every opportunity to go up against the big guns and is fast becoming a force to be reckoned with. Europe is expecting great things from this young man; maybe this race will give us a glimpse of what he could do in Daegu.

Asafa Powell, Carmelita Jeter, Teddy Tamgho: Hot events to watch at Diamond League Birmingham

By Tamika Forrester,

The 9th leg of the Samsung Diamond League series gets under way this Sunday at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham. Jamaican and American athletes will use this as a chance to familiarize themselves with the stadium which will be used as a training ground for London 2012 Olympics.

Asafa Powell

Mens 100m: Fresh off his blistering 9.78 run in Lausanne former record holder Asafa Powell will try to better that time in Birmingham this Sunday. He faces a strong field which includes fellow Jamaicans Nesta Carter whose personal best equals Powell's fastest time this year and Michael Frater who clocked a PB of 9.88 behind powell in Lausanne. Also included are four British athletes all hoping to finally dip below 10 seconds. Watch for USA's Michael Rodgers who ran a PB of 9.85 in Eugene earlier this year.

ASAFA BACK ON TOP?

                                                                                                                                                           That's the question following his scintilating performance at the Lausanne Diamond League meet in Switzerland. Powell's 9.78 is the fastest time in the event this year and signals the former world record holder's surprising return to form. Not since 2008 have we seen such form and confidence oozing from Asafa. Let's have another look:

Addidas Grand Prix: chilly weather equals chilly performances

With the wind, heavy mist and cool temperatures of about 16 degrees C, Saturday's Addidas Grand Prix in New York offered lukewarm to chilly performances. Athletes who braved the weather to line up for their respective events turned in times way off their personal bests.

In the mens 100 metres Jamaica's Steve Mullings got the better of his training partner Tyson Gay. Steve won in a photo finish with both athletes clocking 10.26. Keston Bledman of Trinidad and Tobago was third in 10.33. Gay blames the loss on his sluggish start but insists he will be ready for Usain Bolt come time for World Championships.

Interestingly there were three false starts for this race. First, Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago jumped early, then the Americans Travis Padgett and Rae Monzavous Edwards were cited for starting too soon. All three were disqualified. This is a perfect example of just what the new IAAF false start rule (Once and you're out) will mean for athletes in major finals. Can you imagine an Olympic or world championship final where key stars false start? That would spell disaster for meet organizers who will most likely bill the event around expected performances of major stars. Case in point recently at the Eugene meet, world 200m champion Allyson Felix was allowed to start the 400m despite a clear false start. In fact there was an obvious look of surprise on Felix's face when she found out she was not disqualified. You see meet organizers had billed the event as a show down between Felix and Sanya Richards Ross- A show down which did not materialize as Felix finished 3rd and Richards Ross way down the field.

But lets get back to the wet Addidas Grand Prix. Marshevet Hooker-Myers won the women's 100m with a time of 11.36, no where near the 10.85 she ran in Eugene. The same for the women's 200m where Felix bested the field clocking only 22.92 more than a half-second off her season best.
100m Olympic and World champion Shellyann Fraser-Pryce placed a dismal 7th a rather disappointing performance after her excellent run less than a month ago at the Jamaica Invitational meet.

The less than ideal weather conditions appeared to have no such impact on the mens 400 metres. In a scintillating race, Jeremy Wariner the 2004 Olympic champion, won the race in 45.13 just narrowly beating out Jamaica's Jermaine Gonzales who showed brilliant speed in the last 20 metres to clock 45.17.