Kim wins triple jump in Daegu

By Yoon Chul

Guangzhou Asian Games gold medalist Kim Deok-hyeon became the first Korean to snatch a gold medal in the Colorful Daegu Pre-Championships Meeting 2011, Thursday.

At Daegu Stadium — the same venue for the upcoming IAAF World Championships — Kim recorded 16.99 meters in the men’s triple jump, two centimeters ahead of runner-up Leevan Sands of the Bahamas.

Kim fouled his first two attempts but set his season best record in the third.

In the men’s 100-meter event Walter Dix of the United States proved to be the fastest, clocking in at 10.00 seconds. Teammate Mike Rodgers was second with 10.03.

“I am satisfied with my race. Though my start wasn’t good, I put on a good spurt,” Dix said after the race.

“My rhythm was broken a little by the false starts, and I think I need to improve on that,” he added.

Churandy Martina of the Netherlands and Monzavous Edwards of the United States were disqualified for false starts.

Korean Yeo Ho-suah competed with the world-class sprinters, but finished sixth with a time of 10.50 failing to break the Korean record of 10.23.

Record holder Kim Gook-young was expected to compete but he was ruled out of the starting list, Wednesday, due to injury.

In the men’s 110-meter hurdles, which most of the top rankers headed to Daegu for, David Oliver — last season’s World No. 1 — crossed the finish line in 13.14 seconds, 0.16 seconds ahead of runner-up Aries Merritt.

In the women’s competition American Carmelita Jeter — the current fastest female athlete — clinched top spot in the 100 meters for the third consecutive year with a time of 11.09.

“It was good race,” Jeter said. “Though the time wasn’t good, I am satisfied because I did my best. I have headed to Daegu many times and I really like the fans’ enthusiasm,” she added.

In the women’s 200 meters, Allyson Felix, also of the United States, set a new event record with a time of 22.38.