DAEGU – Defending 100 metres champion Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was knocked off her perch as American Carmelita Jeter won the women’s marquee event on a controversial third day at the World Championships on Monday.
Fraser, also the reigning Olympic champion, finished a disappointing fourth behind Jeter who streaked to the finish in a time of 10.90 seconds, in an exciting climax to the day’s headline event.
Veronica Campbell-Brown delivered Jamaica their podium finish when she came home second in 10.97 seconds while the quickly improving Trinidadian Kelly-Ann Baptiste claimed bronze in 10.98.
Jamaican Kerron Stewart, a silver medallist in Berlin, finished fifth.
The day, however, was marred by the disqualification of Cuban hurdler Dayron Robles who had crossed the line first in the 110 metres hurdles in a time of 13.10 seconds.
Robles had the result overturned after an objection was lodged by the Chinese on behalf of Liu Xiang, who claimed he had been impeded.
Replays showed that Robles had clashed hands with Liu Xiang over the last two hurdles.
As a result, American Jason Richardson, who finished second, was upgraded to gold while Jamaican Dwight Thomas failed to finish the race.
There was also disappointment for the Caribbean in the women’s 400 metres final where Jamaicans Shericka Williams and Novlene Williams-Mills finished sixth and eighth respectively.
Amantle Montsho of Botswana took gold in a national record time of 49.56 seconds.
In the men’s 400 metres, Grenadian teenager Kirani James took another giant stride towards making history when he won his semi-final, to book his berth in Tuesday’s final.
James, who turns 19 on Thursday, effortlessly clocked 45.20 seconds to get home ahead of the United States Virgin Islands’ Tanarie Henry (45.53).
Bahamian Chris Brown missed out when he finished third in 45.54 seconds.
Jamaican Jermaine Gonzales also won his semi-final in 44.99 seconds with Grenadian Rondell Bartholomew finishing third in 45.17 to book his place in the final.
There was no such luck for Trinidadian Renny Quow who claimed bronze in Berlin two years ago. He could only finish fourth in 45.72, in heat one captured by defending champion American LaShawn Merritt. (CMC)