STUTTGART // Barbora Spotakova of the Czech Republic set a world record in the women's javelin last night with a throw of 72.28 metres at the World Athletics Final. The Olympic champion set the record in her first throw, breaking the old mark of 71.70 metres set by Osleidys Menendez of Cuba at the 2005 world championships.
With Usain Bolt already home in Jamaica celebrating his Olympic titles and world records, Asafa Powell cruised home to win the 100m in 9.87sec, far off Bolt's world record of 9.69sec. Jamaicans swept the top three spots, with Nesta Carter finishing second in 10.07sec and Michael Frater third in 10.10sec. In other events, Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt nipped Jeremy Wariner at the line to win the 400 metres in 44.50sec, repeating his victory over his fellow American in Beijing last month.
Wariner finished second, only one-hundredth of a second behind the man who took his Olympic title away from him. In the 400m hurdles, Olympic silver medallist Kerron Clement of the United States caught Danny McFarlane of Jamaica at the final hurdle and surged ahead to win in 48.96sec. Josephine Onyia of Spain upset LoLo Jones in the 100m hurdles, winning in 12.54sec to beat the American by .02 seconds.
Bernard Lagat broke from the pack with about 250 metres to go to win the 3,000m for another American victory. Olympic pole vault champion and world record holder Yelena Isinbayeva pulled out of the competition because of a cold. * AP
