60 Meters: Mujinga Kambundji (Switzerland) 6.96
Before the straightaway final you could have gotten long odds on Mujinga Kambundji’s taking the gold medal after her being overshadowed in the morning heats and early-evening semis. But she got a lightning start before stopping the clock in a stunning 6.96, the fastest time of the millennium.
The 29-year-old Swiss, running out in lane 8 following her semi 2nd, is usually a quick starter but on this occasion had a reaction time of a mere 0.116 and was ahead from the first stride and never headed all the way to the line.
Indeed, she was seeming unaware she had got the gold for more than a few moments after the race had ended and stood impassively, initially wondering what all the fuss was about.
Her time moved her up to =No. 4 on the all-time list, just 0.04 away from Irina Privalova’s long standing-’93 WR, which has now stood for more than 30 years.
Behind the Swiss flyer, who took bronze at the last edition of these championships 4 years ago, Americans Mikiah Brisco and Marybeth Sant Price followed her home for silver and bronze in 6.99 and 7.04.
In the case of Brisco, it was her first trip under 7 seconds while Sant Price equaled her PR set finishing behind her teammate at USATF last month.
“I thought I had it because everybody came and gave me a hug,” said Brisco.” I was like ‘Oh my gosh!’ And I saw 6.95 [the unofficial time on the trackside clock] pop up and I thought, ‘I can’t really have run that,’ but I’m happy with 6.99.
“Can you believe that’s the time I wrote down as my target to run this season? I’m happy with that. I didn’t even know what happened at the end when Mujinga came through on the outside. I had no clue,” added the silver medalist. /Phil Minshull/
RESULTS
1. Mujinga Kambundji (Swi) 6.96 NR (WL) (=4, =9 W);
2. Mikiah Brisco (US) 6.99 PR (AL) (=11, x W; 3, =4 A);
3. Marybeth Sant Price (US) 7.04 =PR;
4. Ewa Swoboda (Pol) 7.04;
5. Shericka Jackson (Jam) 7.04 PR;
6. Briana Williams (Jam) 7.04 PR;
7. Michelle-Lee Ahye (Tri) 7.11;
8. Vitoria Cristina Rosa (Bra) 7.21.
HEATS
I–1. Sant Price 7.07; 2. Zaynab Dosso (Ita) 7.14 =NR; 3. Claudia Payton (Swe) 7.21 PR; 4. Gina Bass (Gam) 7.22; 5. Lorène Dorcas Bazolo (Por) 7.24; 6. Marina Andreea Baboi (Rom) 7.38; 7. Monika Weigertová (Svk) 7.43; 8. Winfrida Mweya Makenji (Tan) 7.71 PR.
II–1. Kambundji 7.17; 2. Ahye 7.23; 3. Maria Isabel Pérez (Spa) 7.23; 4. Ida Kathrine Karstoft (Den) 7.29; 5. Bassant Hemida (Egy) 7.31 PR; 6. Jasmine Abrams (Guy) 7.36; 7. Rosalina Santos (Por) 7.37; 8. Kristina Knott (Phi) 7.39.
III–1. Brisco 7.03 PR (AL) (10, x A);
2. Géraldine Frey (Swi) 7.11 PR; 3. Zoe Hobbs (NZ) 7.13 =NR; 4. Patrizia van der Weken (Lux) 7.21 =NR; 5. Molly Scott (Ire) 7.26; 6. Farzaneh Fasihi (Irn) 7.39; 7. Gudbjörg Jóna Bjarnadóttir (Ice) 7.47;… fs—Rosângela Santos (Bra).
IV–1. Swoboda 7.10; 2. Lotta Kemppinen (Fin) 7.19; 3. Anthonique Strachan (Bah) 7.22 PR; 4. Rosa 7.27; 5. N’ketia Seedo (Neth) 7.30; 6. Milana Tirnanić (Ser) 7.42; 7. Olivia Fotopoulou (Cyp) 7.45.
V–1. Daryll Neita (GB) 7.13; 2. Jackson 7.16; 3. Diana Vaisman (Isr) 7.23 =NR; 4. Rani Rosius (Bel) 7.33; 5. Viktória Forster (Svk) 7.35; 6. Rafailía Spanoudáki-Hatziríga (Gre) 7.35; 7. Carla Scicluna (Mlt) 7.71; 8. Charlotte Afriat (Mon) 8.06.
VI–1. Williams 7.06 PR; 2. Pia Skrzyszowska (Pol) 7.23; 3. Cheyanne Evans-Gray (GB) 7.30; 4. Aurora Berton (Ita) 7.30; 5. Gina Lückenkemper (Ger) 7.33; 6. Dutee Chand (Ind) 7.35; 7. Eva Kubícková (CzR) 7.38; 8. Aziza Sbaity (Leb) 7.47 PR.
SEMIS
I–1. Swoboda 7.03; 2. Sant Price 7.05; 3. Jackson 7.08 PR; 4. Strachan 7.17 PR; 5. Kemppinen 7.18; 6. Vaisman 7.20 NR; 7. Scott 7.23; 8. Bazolo 7.24.
II–1. Brisco 7.03 =PR, =AL;
2. Kambundji 7.08; 3. Hobbs 7.16; 4. Dosso 7.16; 5. Skrzyszowska 7.17; 6. Evans-Gray 7.19 PR; 7. van der Weken 7.28; 8. Karstoft 7.30.
III–1. Williams 7.08; 2. Ahye 7.14; 3. Rosa 7.14 NR; 4. Frey 7.15; 5. Neita 7.15; 6. Pérez 7.20; 7. Bass 7.31;… fs—Payton.
400 Meters: Shaunae Miller-Uibo (Bahamas) 50.31
Though she is a 2-time Olympic gold medalist and among active quartermilers owns the fastest times both indoors (50.21) and out (48.36), Shaunae Miller-Uibo had never mined World Championships gold in the 400. Until now.
The 27-year-old Bahamian amended that “deficiency” on her résumé in commanding fashion here rounding two laps of the track in 50.31 to dispatch Femke Bol (50.57), Stephanie Ann McPherson (50.79 Jamaican Record) and the rest of the field.
Miller-Uibo — who earned a bronze in her last World Indoor appearance in ’14 — came to Belgrade having raced not at all this season. Bol, by contrast, had turned the season’s 3 fastest times: 50.30 Dutch Record plus 50.64 and 50.72. The 22-year-old Tokyo 400H bronze medalist certainly posed a threat, and Miller-Uibo ran controlled in the rounds.
Semi times arrayed the eventual medalists in the order McPherson (51.26 PR), Bol (51.28) and SMU (51.38 as winner of semi II by a comfortable margin).
Miller-Uibo took full advantage of her outside placement in lane 6 — with McPherson, Bol and Justyna Święty-Ersetic to her left — with aggressive sprinting from the start. She led at 100 (11.99) and with the long legs on her 6-¾ (1.85) frame churning clear on the homestraight had the lead over Bol and McPherson by a step at 200 (23.42, 0.5 faster than in her PR from ’21).
Increasing her lead over Bol to about 2½m at 300, she tightened some on the run-in yet still crossed the line about 2m ahead.
“To be able to finish victorious, I’m glad how it’s all turned out,” said Miller-Uibo, finally a world champion. “The goal was to get the break and control the race from there.” /Sieg Lindstrom/
RESULTS
1. Shaunae Miller-Uibo (Bah) 50.31
(11.99, 11.43 [23.42], 12.72 [36.14], 14.17) (23.42/26.89);
2. Femke Bol (Neth) 50.57
(12.17, 11.32 [23.49], 13.00 [36.49], 14.08) (23.49/27.08);
3. Stephenie Ann McPherson (Jam) 50.79 NR
(12.21, 11.47 [23.68], 12.86 [36.54], 14.25) (23.68/27.11);
4. Justyna Święty-Ersetic (Pol) 51.40
(12.41, 11.43 [23.84], 13.74 [37.58], 13.82)(23.84/27.56);
5. Aliyah Abrams (Guy) 52.34
(12.37, 11.70 [24.07], 13.36 [37.43], 14.91) (24.07/26.72);
6. Lieke Klaver (Neth) 52.67
(12.62, 11.32 [23.94], 13.47 [37.41], 15.26) (23.94/28.73).
HEATS
I–1. Phil Healy (Ire) 51.75; 2. Klaver 51.96; 3. Sada Williams (Bar) 52.65; 4. Roneisha McGregor (Jam) 52.89; 5. Cátia Azevedo (Por) 53.01; 6. Gunta Vaičule (Lat) 53.05.
II–1. Bol 51.48; 2. Ama Pipi (GB) 52.53; 3. Jessica Beard (US) 52.72; 4. Tereza Petržilková (CzR) 53.05; 5. Micha Powell (Can) 54.65.
III–1. Święty-Ersetic 52.37; 2. Jessie Knight (GB) 52.93; 3. Lada Vondrová (CzR) 52.94; 4. Sophie Becker (Ire) 53.47; 5. Megan Moss (Bah) 54.03.
IV–1. Natalia Kaczmarek (Pol) 52.22; 2. Abrams 52.34; 3. Camille Laus (Bel) 52.51 PR; 4. Lynna Irby (US) 52.78; 5. Sara Gallego (Spa) 53.13; 6. Iríni Vasilíou (Gre) 53.62.
V–1. Miller-Uibo 51.74; 2. McPherson 51.86; 3. Modesta Morauskaitė (Lit) 52.11; 4. Roxana Gómez (Cub) 52.25 PR; 5. Maja Ciric (Ser) 53.36; 6. Yanique Haye-Smith (TKS) 56.20.
SEMIS
I–1. McPherson 51.26 PR; 2. Bol 51.28; 3. Abrams 51.57 NR; 4. Kaczmarek 51.87; 5. Gómez 52.28; 6. Pipi 52.95.
II–1. Miller-Uibo 51.38; 2. Święty-Ersetic 51.67; 3. Klaver 51.81; 4. Knight 51.93; 5. Morauskaitė 52.00; 6. Healy 52.40.
800 Meters: Ajee’ Wilson (US) 1:59.09 AL
The arc of the race and the arc of Ajee’ Wilson’s career shared one essential quality: patience. The American veteran, still only 27, had twice won silver in the World Indoor. Here, she finally grabbed gold in 1:59.09 with a thrilling kick that looked nothing like her typical race.
Instead, Wilson had her usual race-from-the-front strategy coopted by Jamaica’s Natoya Goule, who led 2 others in front of her by the cut-in. Effectively boxed, Wilson tucked in and patiently awaited an opening. “I was just ready for an opportunity,” she said.
Up front, Goule led through laps of 28.24 and 31.04 (59.28), followed by Uganda’s outdoor world champion, Halimah Nakaayi, and Ethiopian Habitam Alemu.
Just after 500, Australian Catriona Bissett, running next to Wilson, started to fade a bit, opening the door for the American to escape. On the straight approaching the bell, Wilson struck, moving out and going from 4th to 1st in just 14 strides. She passed 600 in 1:29.50 and by the backstretch had a 6m lead. No one could respond to that dramatic burst.
As Wilson continued to run away, a flagging Goule moved too far wide and Nakaayi slipped past on the inside. Coming off the turn, Wilson could savor her first international gold. She crossed in the fastest U.S. time of the year, having closed with a 29.59, and immediately spread her hands out in an expression of relief.
“As long as I got out with [at least] 150m to go, I knew I could finish strong and could finish hard,” she said. “Coming to the line, I was elated, I was excited.”
Freweyni Hailu of Ethiopia closed well to catch Nakaayi for silver, 2:00.54–2:00.66, as Goule missed the podium with her 2:01.18 in 4th. /Jeff Hollobaugh/
RESULTS
1. Ajee’ Wilson (US) 1:59.09 (AL) (x, =9 A)
(28.76, 30.76 [59.52], 29.98 [1:29.50], 29.59) (59.52/59.57);
2. Freweyni Hailu (Eth) 2:00.54 PR
(29.10, 30.79 [59.89], 30.29 [1:30.18], 30.36) (59.89/60.65);
3. Halimah Nakaayi (Uga) 2:00.66
(28.50, 30.85 [59.35], 30.37 [1:29.72], 30.94) (59.35/61.31);
4. Natoya Goule (Jam) 2:01.18
(28.24, 31.04 [59.28], 30.31 [1:29.59], 31.59) (59.28/61.90);
5. Catriona Bisset (Aus) 2:01.24
(28.78, 30.88 [59.66], 30.22 [1:29.88], 31.36) (59.66/61.58);
6. Lindsey Butterworth (Can) 2:03.21
(28.97, 32.60 [61.57], 30.15 [1:31.72], 31.49) (61.57/61.64);
7. Habitam Alemu (Eth) 2:03.37
(28.65, 30.73 [59.38], 30.41 [1:29.79], 33.58) (59.38/63.99);
8. Lorena Martin (Spa) 2:03.93
(29.04, 30.97 [60.01], 31.07 [1:31.08], 32.85) (60.01/63.92).
HEATS
I–1. Goule 2:01.65; 2. Hailu 2:01.70 PR; 3. Jen Selman (GB) 2:02.00; 4. Madeleine Kelly (Can) 2:02.06; 5. Elena Bellò (Ita) 2:02.35; 6. Olivia Baker (US) 2:02.35.
II–1. Wilson 2:03.42; 2. Martin 2:03.85; 3. Tigist Girma (Eth) 2:03.85; 4. Hedda Hynne (Nor) 2:04.17; 5. Síofra Cléirigh Büttner (Ire) 2:06.99;… dnc—Eglay Nalyanya (Ken), Keely Hodgkinson (GB).
III–1. Alemu 2:01.12; 2. Bisset 2:01.24; 3. Nakaayi 2:01.47; 4. Butterworth 2:01.99; 5. Angelika Cichocka (Pol) 2:02.01; 6. Naomi Korir (Ken) 2:03.94.
1500 Meters: Gudaf Tsegay (Ethiopia) 3:57.19
The outstanding miler this winter, Gudaf Tsegay proved her point by producing a gun-to-tape demonstration of her superiority over a talented field before crossing the line in a meet record 3:57.19.
The 400 was passed in a super-quick 61.83 with 800 and 1200 reached in 2:06.17 and 3:10.28.
At the bell, the 24-year-old Ethiopian had an advantage of almost 4 seconds — some 25m — over teammates Axumawit Embaye and Hirut Meshesha, who had separated themselves from the rest of the 12-strong field and were duelling for silver and bronze.
Over the final circuit, Tsegay threw in a 30.98 to extend her lead further and come home more than 30m clear of Embaye, who pulled away from Meshesha for 2nd. The pair clocked 4:02.29 and 4:03.39 to give Ethiopia a unique medal sweep, with Tsegay the fifth Ethiopian winner in this event in the last 7 editions.
Putting Tsegay’s run into perspective, although it was just over 4 seconds shy of her 3:53.09 WR set last year and she ran a year-leading 3:54.77 in Poland a month ago, it was still the No. 5 indoor performance of all time.
Josette Norris and Heather MacLean acquitted themselves well in such exalted company, and reversed their USATF placings with 5th and 7th in 4:04.71 and 4:06.38. /Phil Minshull/
RESULTS
1. Gudaf Tsegay (Eth) 3:57.19 (x, =5 W) (15.33, 30.98, 62.89);
2. Axumawit Embaye (Eth) 4:02.29 (16.20, 32.14, 63.99);
3. Hirut Meshesha (Eth) 4:03.39 (16.63, 32.87, 65.00);
4. Winnie Nanyondo (Uga) 4:04.60 (15.96, 32.25, 64.88);
5. Josette Norris (US) 4:04.71 (15.96, 32.47, 65.54);
6. Linden Hall (Aus) 4:06.34 PR;
7. Heather MacLean (US) 4:06.38;
8. Lucia Stafford (Can) 4:06.41;
9. Claudia Bobocea (Rom) 4:09.64;
10. Marta Pérez (Spa) 4:10.23;
11. Sara Kuivisto (Fin) 4:12.79;
12. Alma Cortes (Mex) 4:13.71.
HEATS
I–1. Embaye 4:04.83; 2. Nanyondo 4:06.11; 3. Bobocea 4:06.66; 4. Hall 4:06.69 PR; 5. Erin Wallace (GB) 4:12.46; 6. Anjelina Nadai Lohalith (SSD) 4:34.72 PR.
II–1. Meshesha 4:05.75; 2. Norris 4:06.27; 3. Cortes 4:10.95; 4. Aurore Fleury (Fra) 4:12.20; 5. Sarah Healy (Ire) 4:12.44; 6. Greza Bakraqi (KOS) 4:28.40.
III–1. Tsegay 4:06.71; 2. Stafford 4:07.95; 3. Kuivisto 4:08.05; 4. MacLean 4:08.13; 5. Pérez 4:10.09; 6. Nozomi Tanaka (Jpn) 4:12.31 NR; 7. Amna Bakhit Barsham (Sud) 4:30.90 NR.
3000 Meters: Lemlem Hailu (Ethiopia) 8:41.82
Elle Purrier St. Pierre battled her way to a runner-up finish to become the best-placed U.S. runner in this event since Lynn Jennings last took silver in ’95 but she had to concede the gold to Ethiopia’s 20-year-old Lemlem Hailu by just 0.22.
After a relatively sedate first 2K which saw 13 of the 20 starters covered by less than a second and the field led by Ethiopia’s Ejgayehu Taye in 5:59.09, inevitably the tempo started to hot up with 5 laps to go.
Taye cranked up the pace over the next 400 before Hailu — running her first 3000 of the winter — moved to the front with 3 laps to go and threw down the gauntlet with a 32.2 lap.
At the bell, Purrier St. Pierre was back in 5th as Hailu was followed by world leader/teammate Dawit Seyaum and an Ethiopian clean sweep looked a distinct possibility.
Seyaum then uncharacteristically ran out of the steam and started to go backwards just after the bell. By contrast, the American 1500 finalist in Tokyo last summer went through the gears and chased Hailu all the way to the line, the gold and silver medalists timed at 8:41.82 and 8:42.04 with Taye 3rd in 8:42.23.
“It was a tough race out there,” said Purrier St. Pierre. “Really crowded and a lot of really talented girls. I just tried to give it my best shot, to stay tough when it started to hurt and finish as hard as I could. I knew I had a perfect lead-up to this so I knew a medal was possible, so I just believed in myself. I’m really looking forward to Eugene for the Worlds outdoors now.”
She has fond memories of Hayward Field. It was there she won the ’14 USATF Junior steeple title and also set her 1500 PR of 3:58.03 when winning at the OT last summer. /Phil Minshull/
RESULTS
1. Lemlem Hailu (Eth) 8:41.82
(14.89, 29.63, 60.67);
2. Elle Purrier St. Pierre (US) 8:42.04
(15.03, 29.44, 60.74);
3. Ejgayehu Taye (Eth) 8:42.23
(15.03, 29.65, 60.99);
4. Gabriela DeBues-Stafford (Can) 8:42.89
(15.39, 30.34, 61.46);
5. Dawit Seyaum (Eth) 8:44.55
(17.18, 32.27, 62.98)(3:03.31);
6. Jessica Hull (Aus) 8:44.97;
7. Alicia Monson (US) 8:46.39;
8. Rahel Daniel (Eri) 8:46.53 PR; 9. Laura Galván (Mex) 8:46.65; 10. Beatrice Chebet (Ken) 8:47.50; 11. Hanna Klein (Ger) 8:48.73; 12. Selamawit Teferi (Isr) 8:50.91; 13. Jhoselyn Jéssica Camargo (Bol) 8:52.29 NR; 14. Luiza Gega (Alb) 8:53.14; 15. Edina Jebitok (Ken) 8:53.25; 16. Amy-Eloise Markovc (GB) 8:53.57; 17. Marta Pérez (Spa) 8:57.81; 18. Meraf Bahta (Swe) 8:58.68 (5:59.09); 19. Julie-Anne Staehli (Can) 8:58.73; 20. Lauren Ryan (Aus) 9:13.93.
60 Hurdles: Cyrena Samba-Mayela (France) 7.78
A French Record 7.78 gave Cyrena Samba-Mayela an upset win. The 21-year-old entered the meet as the No. 4 seed, and then saw the year’s fastest, Jamaican Danielle Williams, run a sloppy race in the heats, failing to advance with a 6th-place 8.23.
The final found Samba-Mayela in lane 5, with Bahamian Devynne Charlton in lane 4. Charlton had won her semi in an NR 7.81 and assumed the role of favorite. Samba-Mayela won hers in 7.85.
Fastest out of the blocks in the final was Swiss Ditaji Kambundji in lane 8, the same lane older sister Mujinga had used in winning the flat 60. The hurdling Kambundji had a bare lead at the first barrier, with Samba-Mayela, Charlton and 2-time USATF champ Gabbi Cunningham trailing closely.
Samba-Mayela was second out of the blocks, her 0.119 reaction time only 0.011 behind Kambundji’s, and she led the field as Kambundji crashed through the second hurdle, before falling at the third. Charlton and Cunningham were almost equal with Samba-Mayela through the second and third barriers, and faded only slightly faded as the trio cleared 4 and 5.
Samba-Mayela won the run-in, Charlton only slightly behind by 0.03 with her NR 7.81, Cunningham capturing the bronze medal in 7.87. Samba-Mayela was overcome with surprise and amazement when the result flashed on the scoreboard, taking the better part of a minute before sheer joy sent her on a victory lap wrapped in a tricolore.
“I came here only with one goal — to become world indoor champion,” said Samba-Mayela, whose strongest credential was having been the 2-time national outdoor hurdles champion. She added “I’m still young and it’s a big credit to have such an experience for further development and improvements.” /Dave Johnson/
RESULTS
1. Cyrena Samba-Mayela (Fra) 7.78 NR;
2. Devynne Charlton (Bah) 7.81 =NR;
3. Gabbi Cunningham (US) 7.87;
4. Britany Anderson (Jam) 7.96;
5. Yoveiny Mota (Ven) 8.05;
6. Zoë Sedney (Neth) 8.07;
7. Sarah Lavin (Ire) 8.09;
… dnf—Ditaji Kambundji (Swi).
HEATS
I–1. Samba-Mayela 7.91; 2. Kambundji 7.97; 3. Lavin 8.03 PR; 4. Mathilde Heltbech (Den) 8.07 PR; 5. Teresa Errandonea (Spa) 8.12; 6. Megan Marrs (GB) 8.19; 7. Sidonie Fiadanantsoa (Mol) 8.22 PR; 8. Lai Yiu Lui (HK) 8.45.
II–1. Mette Graversgaard (Den) 8.08; 2. Maayke Tjin A-Lim (Neth) 8.11 PR; 3. Elisa Maria Di Lazzaro (Ita) 8.16; 4. Ivana Lončarek (Cro) 8.19; 5. Kreete Verlin (Est) 8.22; 6. Danielle Williams (Jam) 8.23; 7. Helena Jiranová (CzR) 8.25.
III–1. Cunningham 7.93; 2. Sedney 7.98; 3. Liz Clay (Aus) 7.99 PR; 4. Mota 8.05 PR; 5. Vanessa Clerveaux (Hai) 8.10; 6. Viktória Forster (Svk) 8.17; 7. Maribel Caicedo (Ecu) 8.33;… dq. Xenia Benach (Spa).
IV–1. Alaysha Johnson (US) 8.03; 2. Michelle Harrison (Can) 8.11 PR; 3. Anamaria Nesteriuc (Rom) 8.13; 4. Anja Lukić (Ser) 8.25; 5. Vitoria Alves (Bra) 8.65;… dnf—Deya Erickson (BVI).
V–1. Charlton 8.02; 2. Anne Zagré (Bel) 8.04; 3. Julia Wennersten (Swe) 8.17; 4. Monika Zapalska (Ger) 8.17; 5. Klaudia Wojtunik (Pol) 8.21; 6. Miho Suzuki (Jpn) 8.32; 7. Ketiley Batista (Bra) 8.37 PR.
VI–1. Noemi Zbären (Swi) 7.95 PR; 2. Ebony Morrison (Lbr) 8.09 NR; 3. Anderson 8.10; 4. Hanna Plotitsyna (Ukr) 8.17; 5. Mulern Jean (Hai) 8.18; 6. Natalia Christofi (Cyp) 8.20; 7. Elisávet Pesirídou (Gre) 8.30.
SEMIS
I–1. Charlton 7.81 NR; 2. Anderson 7.85; 3. Zbären 8.01; 4. Morrison 8.07 NR; 5. Zagré 8.08; 6. Heltbech 8.09; 7. Nesteriuc 8.13; 8. Errandonea 8.16.
II–1. Samba-Mayela 7.85; 2. Kambundji 7.89 PR; 3. Mota 7.99 PR; 4. Clay 8.01; 5. Johnson 8.02; 6. Tjin A-Lim 8.13; 7. Wennersten 8.21; 8. Plotitsyna 8.22.
III–1. Sedney 7.95 =PR; 2. Lavin 7.97 PR; 3. Cunningham 8.00; 4. Graversgaard 8.03; 5. Harrison 8.09 PR; 6. Di Lazzaro 8.11 =PR; 7. Clerveaux 8.15; 8. Forster 8.22.
4 x 400: Jamaica 3:28.40
Four years ago, Jamaica lost an apparent silver when its team was disqualified for one of the runners being in the incorrect order while receiving the baton. This time the squad, with half of its members repeating from ’18, found sweet redemption in capturing the gold as the defending champions from the United States finished 4th.
The Dutch took the pole on the first leg as Lieke Klaver’s 52.13 stayed ahead of Jamaica’s Junelle Bromfield (52.36). Na’Asha Robinson (53.12) handed off in 4th for the U.S. Hurdler Janieve Russell took Jamaica to the lead with her 51.52 second leg, passing Evaline Saalberg (52.76) in the last 100. Jessica Beard produced a 52.09 but still the U.S. handed off in 4th behind Poland.
Third leg Brittany Aveni of Duke brought the Americans back into the medals, putting herself on the shoulder of Jamaican Roneisha McGregor after a lap. McGregor (53.57) held her off, though Aveni split 52.46 and passed to Lynna Irby in 2nd, 0.22 behind Jamaica. Anchor Stephanie Ann McPherson, one of the members of the ill-fated Jamaican’18 squad, produced a 50.95 to beat back Irby’s 50.96.
As Jamaica took gold in 3:28.40, the two other medals went to teams that slipped past Irby on the final stretch. Femke Bol anchored the Netherlands with a 50.26, the fastest split of the race, delivering silver in 3:28.57. And Poland, on the strength of Justyna Święty-Ersetic’s 50.59, grabbed bronze in 3:28.59, ahead of the U.S. by just 0.04. /Jeff Hollobaugh/
RESULTS
1. Jamaica 3:28.40
(Junelle Bromfield 52.36, Janieve Russell 51.52, Roneisha McGregor 53.57, Stephenie Ann McPherson 50.95);
2. Netherlands 3:28.57
(Lieke Klaver 52.13, Eveline Saalberg 52.76, Lisanne de Witte 53.42, Femke Bol 50.26);
3. Poland 3:28.59
(Natalia Kaczmarek 52.43, Iga Baumgart-Witan 52.53, Kinga Gacka 53.04, Justyna Święty-Ersetic 50.59);
4. United States 3:28.63
(Na’Asha Robinson 53.12, Jessica Beard 52.09, Brittany Aveni 52.46, Lynna Irby 50.96);
5. Great Britain 3:29.82
(Hannah Williams 53.85, Ama Pipi 51.99, Mary John 53.10, Jessie Knight 50.88);
6. Belgium 3:33.61
(Hanne Claes 53.66, Naomi van den Broeck 53.11, Imke Vervaet 53.51, Camille Laus 53.33).
HEATS
I–1. United States 3:28.82 (Beard 51.89, Aveni 51.94, Natashia Jackson 53.10, Irby 51.89); 2. Netherlands 3:29.36 (Klaver, Saalberg, Andrea Bouma, de Witte); 3. Belgium 3:30.58 NR (Claes, van den Broeck, Vervaet, Laus); 4. Great Britain 3:30.69 (Williams, Pipi, John, Knight); 5. Spain 3:34.92 (Sara Gallego, Geena Stephens, Carmen Avilés, Laura Bueno).
II–1. Poland 3:30.51 (Baumgart-Witan, Aleksandra Gaworska, Kaczmarek, Święty-Ersetic); 2. Jamaica 3:30.91 (McGregor, Russell, Tiffany James, Bromfield); 3. Ireland 3:30.97 NR (Sophie Becker, Roisin Harrison, Sharlene Mawdsley, Phil Healy); 4. Canada 3:31.45 (Lauren Gale, Kyra Constantine, Natassha McDonald, Sage Watson); 5. Slovenia 3:37.08 NR (Agata Zupin, Jerneja Smonkar, Veronika Sadek, Anita Horvat).