Kenyan Asbel Kiprop stormed to his third consecutive world 1,500m title in Beijing
Jamaica's Novlene Williams-Mills (left) reacts as she crosses the finish line to win gold ahead of the USA's Francena McCorory in the womens 4x400 metres relay at the Bird's Nest National Stadium in Beijing on Sunday. (Photo: AFP)
Beijing: Jamaica stunned Olympic champions the United States to capture the women’s world 4x400 metres relay title on Sunday. Anchor leg Novlene Williams-Mills pulled out a stunning last 50m to catch Francena McCorory in Beijing as the Jamaicans clocked three minutes, 19.13 seconds — the best time in the world this year — to pip their rivals on the line.
American star Allyson Felix looked to have dug her team out of an early hole with a storming third leg to give McCorory a headstart into the last lap until Williams-Mills kicked coming into the home straight to win it for Jamaica. Britain took bronze in 3:23.62. Kenyan Asbel Kiprop stormed to his third consecutive world 1,500m title in Beijing on Sunday.
Kiprop, who also won Olympic gold at the 2008 Beijing Games, clocked 3min 34.40 seconds after a startling turn of pace over the last 50 metres saw him move through the field with aplomb for gold.
Teammate Elija Manangoi took silver in 3:34.63, with Morocco’s Abdalaati Iguider nipping past Algeria’s Olympic champion Taoufik Makhloufi for bronze (3:34.67). Germany’s Kathrina Molitor was crowned world javelin queen in Beijing on Sunday.
Molitor managed a best of 67.69 metres with her last throw to break home hopes as Huihui Lyu took silver with 66.13m. Canada’s Derek Drouin claimed the men’s high jump title on Sunday Beijing, clearing two metres, 34 centimetres. Bohdan Bondarenko and Zhang Guowei sharing the silver.
Jaisha smashes own record but ends 18th
Indian long-distance runner O.P. Jaisha smashed her own national record while finishing 18th, one place above compatriot Sudha Singh, in the women’s marathon event as the World Athletics Championships concluded on Sunday with none of the other Indians even remotely coming up with any chance of winning a medal.
Jaisha, a bronze medal winner in the 1500m event at last year’s Incheon Asian Games, clocked 2:34:43 to complete the early morning marathon race at 18th to better her earlier national mark of 2:37:29 set in January in the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon. Sudha finished just behind Jaisha at 19th with a time of 2:35:35.
( Source : agencies )
Next Story
