Photo: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce defends her 100m title in Beijing. Second place went to Dafne Shippers of the Nehterlands in fore ground. (Getty Images)
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce wrote her name in the history books, yet again, when she produced another virtuoso performance in the women’s 100m finals in the World Championships in Beijing, China winning in 10.76s and in the process becoming the first woman to win the title three times.
Having won for the first time in Berlin in 2009 and unable to defend in Daegu in 2011, Fraser-Pryce reclaimed the title in Moscow two years ago and never looked in any trouble in her title defence on Monday as she won in 10.76. Her usual bullet start was followed by excellent acceleration as she pulled away from the field, but second placed Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands closed the gap in the final stages as the champion raised her right hand in triumph before crossing the finish line. American champion Tori Bowie claimed the bronze in 10.86 while the former champion Veronica Campbell-Brown, in what many see as her last hoorah, finished fourth in10.91.
Natasha Morrison running in her first World Championships, produced a personal best of 10.96 in the semi-finals but was unable to reproduce that time just over an hour later and had to settle for 7th place in 11.02 in her first global final.
There was no medal success in the other final contested by Jamaicans on day three of the championships. Jamaica had two athletes in the final of the women’s triple jump, but not even a season’s best of 14.45m from Kimberly Williams was good enough to claim a medal as she had to settle for 5th place. In fact all four women that finished ahead of her produced their best performances of the season in what was one of the most competitive events of the championships so far.
Colombia’s Caterine Ibarguen underlined her favourites status in producing a season’s best 14.90 to claim gold. Hanna Knyazyeva-Minenko of Israel jumped a national record of 14.78 to edge Olga Rypakova of Kazakhstan who jumped season best 14.77, out of second place. Gabriela Petrova of Bulgaria produced a personal best 14.66m but even that wasn’t enough for a medal as she had to settle for fourth place.
There was a big shocker in the men’s pole vault as event favourite Renaud Lavillenie finished outside the medals ending up in fourth place. Pan Am champion Shawnacy Barber of Canada upset the field to grab gold on countback after he and Raphael Holzdeppe of Germany as both men both cleared 5.90. The bronze medal went to Poland’s Pawel Wojcicehowski after he beat Lavillienie on countback.
Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot defended her 10,000m title in 31:41.31, shrugging of the challenge of Ethiopia’s Gelete Burka (31:41.77) in the homestretch, while Emily Infeld nipped her teammate Molly Huddle on the line just as Huddle had raised her hand to celebrate third place. Huddle was left inconsolable after her unforgivable error.
Kenya’s dominance in the middle distance events as underlined when they swept the top four spots in the men’s 3000m Steeplechase final. An explosive finish by four times world champion Ezekiel Kemboi, was unmatched by any of his teammates as he pulled away in the final lap to retain his title in 8:11.28 and cement his place as the greatest steeplechase runner of all times. Conseslus Kipruto was second in 8:12.38, Brimin Kipruto was third in 8:12.54 and Jairus Birech was fourth in 8:12.62.
Kenya now sits atop the medal table with six medals, two gold, two silver and two bronze. Jamaica is currently in second with two gold and a bronze, while Great Britain with two gold medals sit in third after three full days of competition.
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