BEIJING, China (CMC) – Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce made it another Jamaican night of celebrations as she retained the 100 metres title at the IAAF World Championships here yesterday.Fraser-Pryce, who followed Usain Bolt’s victory on Sunday night, was never challenged for the title and powered her way to 10.76 seconds and a third world championship gold medal.
Dafne Schippers set a Dutch record of 10.81 for the silver and American Tori Bowie took the bronze in 10.86 with Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica finishing fourth in 10.91.
The diminutive Jamaican plans to run faster.
“I’m getting tired of 10.7s,” Fraser-Pryce said. “I just want to put a good race together and hopefully in the next race I get the time I’m working for.
“I definitely think a 10.6 is there. Hopefully I will get it together. I just trust in God, work hard and focus on executing. I am happy and proud to defend my third world title in a row.”
Michelle-Lee Ahye (10.98) and Kelly-Ann Baptiste (11.01) of Trinidad & Tobago took the fifth and sixth positions respectively. Natasha Morrison of Jamaica (11.02) and Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare (11.02) held the back of the race.
Earlier, Olympic champion Kirani James of Grenada advanced to the final of the Men’s 400m scheduled for tomorrow.
James, who crossed the finish line in 44.16 to win the first semi-final heat, will attempt to regain the world title he first won in Daegu, South Korea in 2011. Luguelin Santos followed James as the only two qualifiers from the first semi-final and in the process a Dominican Republic record of 44.26.
The world leader and African record-holder Isaac Makwala of Botswana advanced with the fastest time of 44.11.
“I just tried to control the race and congrats to Santos (Luguelin) for running a nice little record,” James said.
“I am just happy to get through to the final, get some rest, make sure my body is right and just try to make it a very competitive race.”
James will have to battle with the reigning world champion LaShawn Merritt of the United States and South African Wayde Van Niekerk, the only man to beat James this season. The other finalists include Yousef Ahmed Masrahi of Saudi Arabia, who posted 43.93 in the preliminaries, Machel Cedenio of Trinidad & Tobago and Britain’s Rabah Yousif.
Jamaicans Kaliese Spencer and Janieve Russell are also through to the final of the Women’s 400 metres Hurdles.
All four Jamaican competitors qualified for the semi-finals of the women’s 400m. Stephenie McPherson, Shericka Jackson, Christine Day and Novlene Williams-Mills were automatic qualifiers and will join the former world junior and youth 400m champion Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas.
Kineke Alexander of St Vincent and the Grenadines, who finished sixth in the opening heat in 52.24, didn’t advance to the semi-final round.
“I did what my coach told me but I struggled a bit in the last 200m,” Jackson said. “Yesterday, it was a big kick off for me to see my teammates at 100m. I am so glad that Usain (Bolt) did it well.”
Tyrone Smith of Bermuda was the only Caribbean qualifier in the Men’s Long Jump with 8.03 metres while Damar Forbes of Jamaica only managed 7.62m which wasn’t enough to carry through the next round.
But in a surprise result, Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad & Tobago failed to advance in the Men’s Javelin Throw.
The Trinidadian athlete managed only two legal throws of 75.16 metres with his best effort of 76.83.
Walcott entered the championships as one of the pre-event favourites with a personal and season best of 90.16m but has been battling an ankle injury.
“I just went out there, tried to perform well but it was just a bad competition,” he said. No other explanation, just a bad competition. Of course, I expected better throws but I do not know what was going on.”
Kimberly Williams had a season-best 14.45m but was fifth in the women’s triple jump won by Caterine Ibarguen 14.90. Shanieka Thomas, also of Jamaica finished 11th with a best effort of 14.08m.