(REUTERS) – Carmelita Jeter of the United States powered home to win the women’s 100 metres title at the World Championships.
Jeter clocked a time of 10.90 seconds with Jamaican Veronica Campbell-Brown second in 10.97. Kelly-Ann Baptiste of Trinidad and Tobago pipped defending champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce by 0.01 seconds for the bronze medal. Jeter, who took bronze in Berlin two years ago and in 2007, got out of the blocks well and powered home with Campbell-Brown pushing hard to catch her after a slow start.
“I have been working really very, very hard. And today it paid off, it comes out,” Jeter told reporters. “My coach showed me that I was ready to get the gold medal, to stop the Jamaican predominance in the sprint. Today, it is all about my coach John Smith.”
Jamaica’s Fraser-Pryce and Campbell-Brown had won the last two 100m world titles.
Jeter’s coach said the win was the perfect way to get ready for next year’s London Olympics.
“She did what she does best, she competed,” he added. “She’s a wonderful competitor. Finally we got her to the top of the podium. This is great momentum going into the Olympic year.”
The 31-year-old Jeter is the second fastest of all time over the 100 and came to South Korea in terrific form, which included a 10.70 to win the Prefontaine Classic in June.
Amantle Montsho held off Allyson Felix to win the women’s 400 metres final, earning Botswana their first gold medal at the athletics world championships.
Montsho raced across the line in a time of 49.56 seconds with Felix just three-hundreths of a second behind. Anastasiya Kapachinskaya won bronze for Russia.
“I know Allyson is a good athlete and she is fast. I felt when she was coming, but I managed to hold on,” said Montsho, who had five Diamond League wins this season including an eye-catching victory over Felix and Sanya Richards-Ross at the Prefontaine Classic in June.
“I am happy to give the first gold to Botswana. Everybody must be happy at home now and I want to celebrate with them.”
Montsho established an early lead on the blue Daegu track but Felix started to reel her in down the straight. The American was breathing down Montsho’s neck as the pair crossed the line but came up just short.
Felix, who had never run the event in a major championship before South Korea, has two days to recover before she goes in search of her fourth consecutive 200 world title.
Then she could run in the 4×100 metres and 4×400 metres relays. Her six gold medals are already a record for a female athlete.
“On the home straight I definitely felt I still had a chance,” Felix said.
“I gave it all and tried to move my arms. I cannot be too disappointed with my silver medal. I still have the 200 metres and the relays coming up.”
Defending champion Sanya Richards-Ross, who barely squeezed into the final, never got going in lane one and finished seventh.