Sport

Jamaica's Hyman moves up

MONTE-CARLO, CMC

WOMEN'S OLYMPIC AND World 400 metres champion Tonique Williams-Darling of the Bahamas has been knocked out of the top spot in the World Rankings of the International Association of Athletics Federations for the first time in over a year.

But the most significant move from a Caribbean athlete has been made by Jamaica's Mardrea Hyman.

She has climbed four places to number two in the 3,000 metres steeplechase, after winning the bronze medal at the WAF in an NACAC area record of nine minutes, 27.21 seconds.

The 29-year-old Williams-Darling, who has been the torch-bearer in the event since last year, has been overtaken by Jamaica-born quarter-miler Sanya Richards of the United States.

The 20-year-old Richards did not win the gold medal at this year's World Championships in Helsinki, but this was only one of her two losses this season.

Won 10 finals

Richards has won 10 finals, beating Williams-Darling on four occasions - three of them since Helsinki, including last weekend's World Athletics Finals in Monaco, edging the Bahamian with a crisp 49.52 seconds.

Delloreen Ennis-London of Jamaica has also inched up the rankings in the sprint hurdles. She slipped into third place following a season's personal best performance of 12.57 seconds at the WAF last weekend.

On the men's side, Marc Burns' victory in the 100 at the WAF has helped the T & T sprinter to cement his place in the top 10. He is now ranked nine, and Jamaica's Dwight Thomas, who claimed third in a photo-finish, is now rated third.

Chris Williams of Jamaica moved into the top five in the 200, when he clocked a season's best 20.19 to finish second in Monaco.

His compatriot Brandon Simpson also cemented his place among the elite in the 400 with a fourth-place finish at the WAF that pushes him into a tie for second place in the rankings, alongside Great Britain's Tim Benjamin.

The irrepressible James Beckford also moved up in the long jump, climbing two places to seventh, after taking bronze at the WAF.

The IAAF has announced that following the WAF, there were six new event leaders, including Richards, in the latest rankings.