Tyson Gay nabs Diamond Race Trophy; Huddle gets 5000m AR; Thurmond sixth in discus...

BRUSSELS, Belgium--Tyson Gay (left/photo by Paul Merca) put on another strong but not unchallenged display of speed as the inaugural Samsung Diamond League series came to an end at the Belgacom Memorial Van Damme in Brussels Friday.

Despite the unseasonable chill and wet track, another sell-out crowd of 47,000 fans at King Baudouin Stadium were treated to the season’s second fastest 100m run courtesy of Gay who for the second consecutive meeting simply defied the conditions.

The conditions weren’t much better in the Belgian capital than it was in London two weeks ago when he ran 9.78, but the result was nearly the same, a 9.79 clocking which secured the Diamond Race Trophy, and a $40000 check.

Jamaica's Nesta Carter set a personal best in finishing second in 9.85, while fellow countryman Yohan Blake was third in 9.91.

The unseasonable chill benefited former Notre Dame standout Molly Huddle (left/photo by Paul Merca), as she took .04 seconds off Shalane Flanagan's previous American record in the women's 5000 meter run when she finished tenth in Brussels in 14:44.76. Her time is also an Area and NACAC record.

Kenya's Vivian Cheruiyot took home the victory and the Diamond Race trophy for the season long series, in a time of 14:34.13.

Allyson Felix picked up her second Diamond Race trophy when she won the women's 200m in 22.62. Felix also won the prize for the women's 400m.

In the women's discus, former University of Washington standout Aretha Thurmond finished sixth with a best throw of 202-0 (61.58m).

Croatia's Sandra Perkovic took the win, spinning the disc 219-7 (66.93m). However, Cuba's Yarelis Barrios locked up the Diamond Race Trophy by winning four of the seven meets during the Samsung Diamond League season, which began in May.

Barrios finished second in Brussels with a throw of 216-5 (65.96m).

Complete results from the Belgacom Memorial Van Damme meeting are available here.

EPHRATA SET TO HOST UW/WSU DUAL CROSS COUNTRY MEET

Here's a link to a story in the Wenatchee World about next week's Apple Cup cross country dual meet between the University of Washington and Washington State University in Ephrata, where UW head coach Greg Metcalf grew up.

“We’re excited about the intimate atmosphere, and I’m excited to take my team to my hometown,” said UW head coach Greg Metcalf, who still holds Ephrata track records in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters.

It’ll be a big day for Ephrata sports, as the Tigers harriers will compete in a three-team jamboree before the UW-WSU matchup. After the dual, the Ephrata football team will play Quincy at Kiwanis Field.

You can read the full story here...

NOTE: The IAAF, USA Track & Field, the University of Washington, and the Wenatchee World all contributed to this report.