Berlin heroes Idowu and Dobriskey shine at home
TRIPLE-JUMP world champion Phillips Idowu made a triumphant return to home soil with victory at the British Grand Prix in Gateshead yesterday.
Fellow Briton Lisa Dobriskey followed up her silver medal from Berlin by winning the 1500m, while Christine Ohuruogu returned to form by edging the 400m.
American Tyson Gay overcame a groin injury to win the men’s 100m, in the absence of world and Olympic sprint king Usain Bolt.
Idowu started slowly but the Londoner eventually summoned a leap of 17.32m to beat the Bulgarian Momchil Karailiev into second place in wet and windy conditions.
Dobriskey too left it late, passing American Erin Donohue on the last bend to claim victory, with another Briton, Hannah England, finishing third. Ohuruogu, who came home a disappointing fifth at last month’s world championships, pipped world relay gold medallist Debbie Dunn to win her event.
Gay, who ran the third fastest time ever in Berlin but was still left trailing by Bolt, beat Kim Collins in a time of 10.15 seconds. Britain’s Jemma Simpson came third in the women’s 800m, ahead of world bronze medallist Jenny Meadows.