Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/852418
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 23 JULY 2017 47 Sport SPORTTODAY ATHLETICS WATERPOLO Bolt breaks 10 seconds for first time this season in Monaco win USAIN Bolt ran under 10 seconds for the first time this year as he nar- rowly won the 100 metres at the Monaco Diamond League meeting on Friday. The eight-times Olympic sprint- ing champion was slow out of the blocks, just as he was in his last race in Ostrava last month, and never managed to put a big gap between him and the field. He won in 9.95 seconds, three hundredths of a second ahead of American Isiah Young. South Af- rica's Akani Simbine was third in 10.02.Before the meeting, the Ja- maican went to Germany to have treatment for back issues that have troubled him for years. It was his last outing before next month's world championships in London where he will race in the 100 metres and 4x100m relay. "It was good, I'm going into right direction, still a lot of work to do," said Bolt, who is scheduled to retire after the world championships. "I'm always here for the fans, and of course I will miss the vibe around the track. Mixed emotions always -- happy for my career, sad that it is ending. Sub 10 is always good. It was an exciting race, lots of energy." Olympic and world champion Wayde van Niekerk won a titanic battle against Botswana's Isaac Makwala to take the 400 metres. The South African, also the world record holder in the event, made a lightning start, then Makwala re- covered to lead coming off the final bend before Van Niekerk powered down the final straight to win in 43.73 seconds. Makwala's time of 43.84 was a personal best. Van Niekerk's fellow South African, Caster Semenya, won a dramatic women's 800 me- tres in a season's best and meeting record time of 1:55.27. The Olympic champion snatched the win in the last few metres ahead of Burundi's Francine Niyonsaba and Ajee Wilson, who both set na- tional records. The trio had been neck and neck down the final straight. Wilson's 1:55.61 shattered the pre- vious U.S. record of 1:56.40 set by Jearl Miles-Clark in 1999. Elijah Manangoi upstaged a strong field to win the men's 1500 metres in a year's best time of 3:28.80. He sped past compatriot Timothy Cheruiyot on the final straight after the two broke clear of the field while Olympic champion Matt Centrow- itz was well beaten in ninth. Manangoi's fellow Kenyan, Em- manuel Korir, also ran the fastest time of the year as he won the men's 800 metres in 1:43.10. Prince Albert II of Monaco congratulates Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt BOV Water Polo Players of Month – June 2017 SIRENS ASC goalkeeper Nicky Grixti won the BOV Player of the Month award for his performances during June 2017. Luke Hyzler (Otters ASC) won the award for the first division. Grixti is displaying the fin- est form in his career effecting strings of great saves as well as kick-starting his team's fast offence. His mastery between the posts was particularly evident in Sirens' victory over Sliema where he sent Spanish international and Italy cham- pion Guillermo Molina home without his name on the score- sheet. Otters' Luke Hyzler is an in- tegral component in a revived Otter's side that achieved a vic- tory over newcomers Birzeb- buga with 4 goals during the month, including a brace in their 7-7 draw with Ta' Xbiex. Peter Perotti, Chief Officer at Bank of Valletta presented the winners with a commemora- tive plaque in the presence of Joe Caruana Curran, President of the Aquatic Sports Associa- tion of Malta. Bank of Valletta is a major supporter of sporting ini- tiatives in Malta through its extensive community pro- gramme and has been the main partner of the ASA for the last 13 years. Nicky Grixti (Sirens ASC) wins Premier Division • First Division award goes to Luke Hyzler (Otters ASC) Peter Perotti, Chief Officer at Bank of Valletta presenting the awards to Nicky Grixti and Luke Hyzler