Lapierre's diamond streak continues E-mail
By NICOLE JEFFERY  
The Australian
May 24, 2010

ATHLETICS: Australia's newest long jump star Fabrice Lapierre continued his stunning start to the season by downing the triple world champion Dwight Phillips in his Diamond League debut in Shanghai last night.
Lapierre, who launched himself an extraordinary 8.78m (wind-assisted) at the national titles last month, after clinching the world indoor title in March, consolidated his position as a major international threat this year.
He won with a best leap of 8.30m, but any of his best three performances (including 8.27m and 8.24m) would have secured the win. Phillips took second with 8.18m.
In blustery conditions, fellow Australian Chris Noffke struggled with his run-up, finishing sixth with a best leap of 7.74m
It was a less satisfactory night for fellow world champion Steve Hooker who failed at his three attempts at 5.70m to tumble out of the top three in the pole vault.
Hooker never looked comfortable in the conditions, taking two attempts to clear his opening height of 5.50m.
The man who finished second to the Australian at the world indoor titles, Germany's Malte Mohr, took the win as the only man to clear 5.70m.
World record-holder Usain Bolt continued to show exceptional early season form, clocking 19.76sec to win the 200m comfortably despite a slight headwind.
"It was good, it was kind of windy," Bolt said.
"It was a good run, the feeling was good but it was not easy. I am not in the best of shape, but I enjoyed it and I look forward to the next race.
"I really wanted a good time, because I am not going to China very often."
Bolt, who owns the world record of 19.19, was the only man to break the 20-second barrier, with American Angelo Taylor second in 20.34 followed by American Ryan Bailey in 20.43.
It was Bolt's first race in China since his triple-gold Olympic performance at the 2008 Beijing Games and he was roared on by the crowd as he jogged around the stadium on a victory lap.
New national 400m champion Ben Offereins paid for his early aggression, fading to finish fifth (46.08sec) in the one-lap sprint as former world champion Jeremy Wariner (45.41sec) claimed victory.