American Allyson Felix cruised to victory in the 400m at the penultimate meet in the IAAF’s Diamond League in Zurich on Thursday night to ensure she bagged a brace of trophies.
Having already wrapped up the 200m, in which she is a three-time world champion, Felix timed 50.37 seconds, a gutsy final 30m seeing her past closest rivals Debbie Dunn and African champion Amantle Montsho, of Botswana.
“The whole Diamond League season was amazing, pretty cool,” said Felix. “But I must admit I had to work hard in the last 100m for that win.
“I still feel like a 200 and 400m runner and it will stay like that for 2011.”
Felix’s triumph was the highlight of a great night for a further six US athletes who scooped Diamond Trophies and 40,000 dollars apiece for dominating their events.
On the track, Wallace Spearmon and Jeremy Wariner won the men’s 200 and 400m, David Oliver the 110m hurdles and Carmelita Jeter the women’s 100m.
There was further success for the United States in the field, Dwight Phillips and Brittney Reese winning the men and women’s long jump events respectively.
Spearmon ran a blistering 19.79sec to claim the 200m title, while Oliver dipped under 13sec for the fourth time this season in the hurdles, clocking 12.93sec despite falling over the line.
Wariner was in imperious form over the one lap, cruising to a world lead of 44.13sec with a fantastic kick down the home stretch to get past Jamaica’s Jermaine Gonzalez.
Jeter was already assured of finishing atop the standings in the women’s 100m, but had to be content with second place behind Jamaican Veronica Campbell-Brown in a photo-finish at 10.89sec.
In the field, Phillips long jumped a best of 8.20m, his closest rival Fabrice Lapierre of Australia remarkably failing to register a single jump in six attempts.
Phillips’ team-mate Reese, the women’s world indoor and outdoor champion, claimed her bonus after dominating the in-form Darya Klishina, jumping a best of 6.89m to the Russian’s 6.67.
Elsewhere, Jamaican Kaliese Spencer, in the absence of the injured Lashinda Demus, claimed the women’s 400m hurdles crown, timing a personal best of 53.33sec in the process of victory.