Moscow left ‘Shell(y)-shocked’
MOSCOW, Russia — Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s second IAAF World Championships 100m title in a cool Luhzniki stadium in Moscow last night reinforced Jamaica’s claim to the title of Sprint Capital of the world, completing the double after Usain Bolt won the men’s equivalent 24 hours earlier.
This was the second time that both Fraser-Pryce and Bolt were winning the 100m title at the same World Championships, having done so in Berlin, Germany in 2009. Both failed to repeat in Daegu, South Korea two years ago as Bolt was disqualified after a false start and Fraser-Pryce was fourth.
If Fraser-Pryce had an edge this time, it was in her performance which was even more impressive than double World Record holder Bolt’s magnificent World leading 10.71 seconds into a -0.3m/s wind. She completely dominated a quality field, virtually leading from start to finish to win by a massive margin.
The Ivory Coast’s Murielle Ahoure won her first major outdoors medal, taking silver with 10.93 seconds, while defending champion Carmelita Jeter won the bronze with 10.94 seconds.
The expected clash with the impressive Nigerian Blessing Okagbare did not materialise as she finished in sixth place behind another Jamaican Kerron Stewart (10.97 seconds).
The gold propelled Jamaica further up the medals tables to second with two goals and a bronze behind the United States’ three gold, two silver and a bronze. McPherson, oh so close
Meanwhile, in two other finals that included Jamaicans last night, Stephanie McPherson just missed a medal in the women’s 400m as she finished fourth in her first-ever senior championship as Novlene Williams-Mills was eighth. Andrew Riley was also eighth in the men’s 110m hurdles, hitting the eighth barrier when he was well-placed to make a run at a medal.
This second World Championships gold medal, in addition to her back-to-back Olympic titles, has put Fraser-Pryce at the very top of all-time female sprinting as she joins American Gail Devers as the only women to hold the Olympic and World Championships titles.
Not bad for an athlete who was a virtual unknown six years ago until she burst onto the scene with her win at the 2008 JAAA National Senior Championships.
Fraser-Pryce, who ran 10.87 seconds in her semi-final heat earlier in the day, said she had a brief moment of doubt after the semi-finals, as she felt some pain close to her ‘gluteus maximus’, but said once she got into the blocks for the final she was calm and was able to clear her mind.
While dismissing suggestions that her large margin of victory was indicative of an “easy win”, she said the gold medal was the result of “hard work and commitment”.
“This is what I worked for, this was my first year out of school and I was completely focused on getting this done, and after the Olympics, I said I was ready,” she told reporters.
Fraser-Pryce, who just missed equalling her national record of 10.70 seconds, said she was not surprised by her victory as her 10.77 seconds run in the semi-finals of the London Anniversary Games told her all she needed to know about her form coming into the championships.
“I would be lying if I said I was surprised, I knew I was doing well in the 100m; I knew I was very focused and determined to get it right, and when I ran that time in the heats of the London meet I knew that all I had to do was to go back and continue to work on the starts because most persons in the race are closers… when they get to 70 metres they are opening up, but I knew I had an advantage and that was my start and that was what I focused on to get the start and get
it right.”
The 100m win, she said, also set her up for the 200m as she said it will give her more confidence.
Two other Jamaicans — Schillonie Calvert and Sherry-Ann Brooks — failed to get past the semi-final stage. Despite a strong second half, Calvert never recovered from a poor start and finished in fourth place in 11.28 seconds. She told the Jamaica Observer after that she was hoping to at least run her personal best of 11:05 seconds.
The 30-year-old Brooks was sixth in 11.40 seconds in her heat, but said she was “grateful” as given all she had gone through the last few years “here I am in the semi-finals of the World Championships”.
McPherson came agonisingly close to giving Jamaica its first medal in the women’s 400m since 2009, when Shericka Williams won silver, as she placed fourth in 49.99 seconds, just behind Russia’s Antonina Krivoshapka (49.78 seconds) as Great Britain’s Christine Ohuruogu caught defending champion Amantle Monstsho on the line to win in a new National Record 49.41 seconds, the same time given to the Botswana runner.
Williams Mills was eighth in 51.49 seconds.
None of the three Jamaican men advanced past the second round of the 400m. Javon Francis had the fastest time of the trio, running 45.62 seconds for fifth place in his heat. Javere Bell, who ran in the lane beside defending champion Kirani James for the second straight round, was seventh in 45.77 seconds, while Omar Johnson was sixth in his heat in 45.89 seconds.
Spencer’s heartbreaking disqualification
Kaliese Spencer’s disqualification from the women’s 400m hurdles spoilt a good yesterday morning for the Jamaicans, who saw six others — three men and three women — advance to today’s semi-finals.
The three-time IAAF Diamond League champion and two-time World Championships finalist had won her first round heat in a comfortable-looking season-best 54.10 seconds, but was later disqualified for breaching IAAF’s rule 168.7 (a).
An appeal which lasted over two hours, the Observer learnt, was lodged but based on the video evidence presented, the JAAF in a release said disqualification was upheld.
“An incident occurred in Heat One of the Women’s 400m Hurdles where Jamaican athlete Kaliese Spencer (bib number 524), who crossed the line in first position but was disqualified under rule 168.7 (trailing leg).
“Video evidence was examined, the Jamaican Team not satisfied, and filed an Appeal to the Jury.
“The Jury of Appeal met and rejected the Jamaican appeal.
“The results stands.”
This is not the first time the athlete has been affected by this rule and she was disqualified at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Birmingham last year, but was reinstated after an appeal by MVP president Bruce James, who was on hand.
Meanwhile, Nickesha Wilson finished third in her heat in 55.75 seconds and advanced automatically, while Ristananna Tracey finished fifth in her heat in 55.94 seconds and advanced as one the four fastest losers.
Danielle Dowie ran 57.03 seconds in her heat and failed to advance.
All three men — Annsert Whyte, Leford Green and Isa Phillips — all advanced automatically in the men’s equivalent.
Despite hitting two hurdles, Whyte who started the event this season, ran 49.63 seconds for third place behind Olympic champion Felix Sanchez and Clement Kerron.
Green, the Olympic finalist, was second in his heat in 49.45 seconds behind Senegal’s Mamadou Kasse Hanne, while Phillips ran 49.57 seconds also for second place behind Trinidad’s Jehue Gordon.