Top Performances from Rome Diamond League 2011

The third stop in the Samsung Diamond League, Rome offered some big performances, world-leading marks and Olympic 'A' Standards for many athletes.

The biggest story coming was was obviously Usain Bolt's presence in the meet. However, Bolt was nowhere near top form on this day, as the world's biggest track & field star needed everything he had to beat countryman Asafa Powell. Powell has been racing much more than Bolt of late, and he looked much more sharp because of it. Always out well, Asafa stormed to an early lead and nearly held on for the huge upset. Bolt, however, closed very well in the final 20 meters and took the win in 9.91. Asafa was second at a 9.93 season's best.

The biggest story on the American side had to be Allyson Felix. Felix looked fantastic in turning in a 49.81 world-leading time (her own 50.33 mark from Doha). She looked to be gliding effortlessly throughout, as she proved her versatility once again. Fellow American Francena McCorory ran solid, placing third in 50.70. Like Bolt, Sanya Richards-Ross looked rusty. The 400 great struggled down the final stretch, finishing 5th. However, her 50.98 still represents a season's best. Look for her to round into shape pretty quickly over the next several weeks and make a run at the US title.

Felix tried the 400/200 double, but wasn't able to nab the victory in the 2. She faded to 4th in 22.81, but American Bianca Knight claimed the victory and a season's best in 22.64. Knight now ranks 3rd in the world with her mark, and easily eclipsed the 23.10 standard.

Khadevis Robinson showed he was still a force to be reckoned when he beat the field by almost half a second, running 1:45.09! KD sits tied for #9 in the World right now with Nick Symmonds and is #3 on the US list. With it being a Diamond League event, KD racked up 8 big points while he took down some big names...2009 World Champ Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, Olympic 1500 Champ Asbel Kiprop, 2007 World Champ Alfred Yego and 1:42 runner Boaz Lalang. The performance comes a week after KD won the B section at Oxy and marks as his fastest time since July 11, 2009 when he ran 1:44.47 in Santa Monica. Great to see KD back on top!

Angelo Taylor ran a solid 48.66, posting his best time of the season in the 400 hurdles. Taylor got 3rd overall, while Kerron Clement was last in 50.03. Taylor, Justin Gaymon and Johnny Dutch all grabbed the 49.50 'A' Standard.  

Taylor wasn't the only American veteran to turn in a great performance. Christin Wurth-Thomas became the first American to get the 'A' Standard in the 1500. Coming into the meet, Katie Follett was the fastest American of the season at 4:07.44. Wurth shattered the mark, running 4:03.72 for the 'A' Standard (4:06.00). She finished 6th, as winner Maryam Yusuf Jamal ran a world-leading 4:01.60. Furthermore, most of the top runners were unaffected by a pretty bad spill early in the race, as a few women went down.

Sara Hall set a HUGE PR in the steeplechase. Hall ran 9:39.48, in setting a new personal best by 9 seconds! Her new PR represents the fastest time by an American this season, besting Emma Coburn's 9:40 mark from Payton Jordan. It also gives her the standard of 9:43. She has to feel confident going into the championship season that a spot on the team is now a real possibility. Always good at several events, she seems to have now found her best event.

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