BERLIN, (Reuters) – The United States struck back in their track duel with Jamaica yesterday when Sanya Richards won the world championship women’s 400 metres in convincing style and Kerron Clement took the men’s 400 hurdles gold.
The victories gave a timely lift to the U.S. team, who have had to again take a back seat to the Caribbean island after the victories of Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser in the 100 metres.
Bolt looks set to add the 200 after qualifying easily for the semi-finals despite two, by his supreme standards, weary-looking qualifying runs yesterday.
“I’m feeling alright, a little bit tired, but nothing a good night’s rest won’t cure,” the 22-year-old told reporters.
There only ever seems to be one nation in the hunt when it comes to the 3,000 steeplechase and Ezekiel Kemboi made it 10 world titles in a row for athletes from, or born in, Kenya.
Steffi Nerius nearly lifted the roof off the Olympic Stadium when the 37-year-old German won the javelin while Briton Phillips Idowu produced a lifetime best of 17.73 metres to win the men’s triple jump.
The championship also had its first doping case as Morocco’s Jamel Chatbi pulled out of the steeplechase final after testing positive for the banned stimulant clenbuterol after finishing second in his heat on Saturday.
Richards, third in Beijing after going into the 2008 Olympics as favourite, has been the form one-lapper this season and kept her discipline after Russian Antonina Krivoshapka had started strongly.
The American took control coming into the final bend to win in 40.00 seconds, holding off Jamaica’s Olympic silver medallist Shericka Williams (49.32) with Krivoshapka third.
“It’s better than good,” Richards said. “I’m overwhelmed and excited to be finally standing top of the podium.
“Finally the work has paid off. It’s the best feeling in the world.”
Clement’s chances of retaining his title suffered a setback when he clattered the first barrier but it seemed to spur him on as he rocketed clear and just had enough left to win in 47.91.
Javier Culson took silver for Puerto Rico in 48.09 with 2005 champion Bershawn Jackson of the U.S. third in 48.23.
Kenyan-born athletes had won the previous nine world steeplechase titles, though Stephen Cherono took two of them as Saif Saaeed Shaheen after switching to Qatar.
Kemboi finished second in the previous three editions but finally took gold after out-kicking compatriot Richard Mateelong over the last 200 to win in 8.00.43.
Frenchman Bouabdellah Tahri prevented another Kenyan clean sweep when he pipped Paul Koech on the line for bronze.
It was a similar story for Nerius, who picked the perfect time and place to end her run of three successive world bronzes.
Her opening throw of 67.30 metres did the damage and Olympic and defending champion and world record holder Barbora Spotakova of the Czech Republic could manage only 66.42 in response for silver.
Idowu took gold with a leap of 17.73 metres to win the triple jump and leave defending world and Olympic champion Nelson Evora of Portugal second on 17.55.
Today serves up a double dish for middle-distance fans with the finals of the men’s 1,500 metres and women’s 800. The men’s discus and women’s 100 hurdles will also be decided while Bolt is on duty again in the 200 semis.
