Jamaican Fraser-Pryce completes 100m treble

BEIJING: Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce roared to an unprecedented third women’s 100 metres world title in a flash of green dreadlocks as she emulated countryman Usain Bolt on Monday.
The double Olympic champion, wearing a band of yellow daisies in her green-dyed hair, clocked 10.76 seconds to win easily in Beijing, a day after Bolt blazed to glory in the men’s 100m.
“There is always the excitement of running races,” said Fraser-Pryce, adding that she was “happy and proud” with the win.
Fraser-Pryce got off to an explosive start and was never seriously threatened, winning in relative comfort from Dutchwoman Dafne Schippers, who took silver in a time of 10.81 with American Tori Bowie third in 10.86.
But the pint-sized Jamaican, who captured the world title in 2009 and 2013, will not try to repeat the 100-200m sprint double she achieved in Moscow two years ago.
“I am not considering the 200m, the plan has already been to only run the 100m,” confirmed Fraser-Pryce.
“My message always is: No matter where you are from, no matter what past you have, it is all about your future and your goals.
“No matter what comes, I will always work hard and do my best.”
The American threat failed to materialise as Fraser-Pryce, 28, underlined her dominance, qualifying quickest for the final in 10.82.
Her task was eased when countrywoman Sherone Simpson, silver medallist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, missed the final along with Ivory Coast’s Murielle Ahoure, second in the 100 and 200m in Moscow two years ago.
Schippers, who took heptathlon bronze at the Moscow worlds, was left beaming with her silver medal after lowering the Dutch national record twice in one night.
“It is good for the country and good for Europe,” said Schippers. “After the semi-final when I ran the national record, I knew I could run faster than that... and I did.”
But bronze medallist Bowie was left disappointed she had not posed more of a threat to Fraser-Pryce.
“I am delighted with the medal but I wished I had performed a much better race,” she said. “I think I will be much more prepared next year for the Olympics.
“Coming here I didn’t know what to expect but I feel excited inside despite the fact it is not visible from the outside.
“This is a major stepping stone for me. The 200m is more my race but I wanted to do more 100m this year.”
Meanwhile, Canada’s Shawnacy Barber extended Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie’s world championship jinx by snatching men’s pole vault gold.
Barber, 21, managed a best of 5.90 metres, winning on countback from defending champion Raphael Holzdeppe of Germany at the Bird’s Nest stadium.
Olympic champion and world record-holder Lavillenie could only clear 5.80 and shared bronze with Polish pair Piotr Lisek and Pawel Wojciechowski as his challenge fell flat again.
Lavillenie had previously won a silver in Moscow and two bronzes in the Berlin and Daegu worlds, and was looking to break that hoodoo at the Bird’s Nest stadium.
But it was not to be as he came into the competition at 5.80m.
In perfect conditions, the Frenchman sailed well over the bar as Holzdeppe failed at his first effort at that height.
Barber, Lisek and Wojciechowski all went clear at the first time of asking.
The bar moved up to 5.90m, but Lavillenie raked his first two efforts before a clumsy, final attempt saw his title bid fizzle out.
It was left to a battle between Barber and Holzdeppe, and while the pair failed all three attempts at 6.0 metres after clearing 5.90, the Canadian came out victorious on countback, the German having suffered three more failed jumps during the competition.
Kenya’s Ezekiel Kemboi continued his amazing medal streak by winning a fourth consecutive world steeplechase gold.
The 33-year-old, a two-time Olympic champion (2004 and 2012) who has also won three world silvers, timed 8min 11.28sec for gold, holding off Kenyan team-mate Conseslus Kipruto in the final straight.
Kipruto claimed silver in 8:12.38 with another Kenyan, Brimin Kiprop Kipruto, completing the podium with bronze (8:12.54).
This season’s world number one Jairus Birech, a three-time winner on the Diamond League circuit this year, finished fourth in 8:12.62, just ahead of Americans Daniel Huling and Evan Jager.