Sprint sensation Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce stormed to gold as Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor was left ruing a very, very bad start in the final of the women’s 100m at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing on Monday.
Fraser-Pryce successfully defended her 100m title with a mark of 10.76secs in a straightforward victory at the Bird Nest Stadium.
Dutchwomam, Dafne Schippers, claimed silver in a national record 10.81secs, while American, Tori Bowie, won bronze in 10.86secs.
Schippers, a bronze medalist in the heptathlon two years ago, set two national records in the space of two hours and thirty minutes.
“Wow, I’m the second in the world. I don’t believe it. It is good for the country and good for Europe. After the semi-final, when I ran the national record, I knew that I can run faster than that,” Schippers said.
“On the warm up track outside I felt very good and I knew that I can run faster in the final and I did it. You have to compete in every race and stay relaxed in your head. In the heptathlon, you need that to do all the events. I think it is possible to get a medal in the 200m.”
Having been outright favourite for the world title throughout the years, Jamaican Fraser-Pryce left nothing to chance, storming out of her block to an explosive start; she opened up a three metre gap only to be chased down the track by European champion, Schippers, at which time she had already assured herself of the first step across the finish line.
Fraser-Pryce has now won the world 100m title for a third time since her first triumph in Berlin six years ago.
“I am happy and proud to defend my third world title in a row. My message always is: no matter where you are from, no matter which past you have, it is all about your future and your goals,” Fraser-Pryce said.
“It’s so much about being a successful women, sometimes people are intimidated by me. No matter what comes, I will always work hard and do my best.”
It was a bad day in office for Team Nigeria’s medal hopeful, Okagbare-Igho, who ended up in eighth position in 11.02secs.
Former world champion, Veronica Campbell-Brown, finished fourth (10.91secs), while Michelle-Lee Ahye (10.98secs), Kelly-Ann Baptiste (11.01secs) and Natasha Morisson (11.02secs) followed suit in 5th, 6th and 7th positions.
Nigerian Okagbare-Igho had advanced to Monday evening showdown with the fourth best time in the semi-finals, but just happened to dally too long on take off, while the rest contenders where cruising down their lanes. Her 0.185 reaction time was only better than Jamaica’s Morisson, out of all 8 fields, with the latter ending in seventh position.
