Beijing : Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce became the first woman to win three world 100m titles and completed a Jamaican sprint double as she emulated Usain Bolt by storming to victory on Monday.
The pint-sized Jamaican, unmissable with a yellow flowered garland on top of her bright green braids, shot out of the blocks and eased home, right arm raised, in 10.76 seconds.
Dutchwoman Dafne Schippers took silver in a national record of 10.81sec with American Tori Bowie claiming bronze (10.86) in the climax to day four at the world championships in Beijing. Double Olympic champion Fraser-Pryce also won world gold in 2009 and 2013, and sealed her third title a day after Bolt won a thrilling 100m duel with America’s Justin Gatlin.
It came seven years after Fraser-Pryce came to the Bird’s Nest as an outsider at the 2008 Olympics, and left with 100m gold.
“When I ran the heats, I remembered when back in 2008 at the Olympic Games I was 21 years old,” Fraser-Pryce said.
“I expected nothing then. I came out here again tonight — with a gold medal.”
Fraser-Pryce, however, was outdone by Ezekiel Kemboi, the flamboyant Kenyan who held his nerve for a remarkable fourth consecutive world gold in the 3000m steeplechase — an event he has dominated for the best part of 11 years.
“I’m so happy about my fourth consecutive title,” said Kemboi, who attacked the final hurdle like a high hurdler when he sensed team-mate Conseslus Kipruto closing on him down the final straight.
Kipruto eventually took silver with another Kenyan, Brimin Kiprop Kipruto, completing the podium with bronze.
