Gay storms to rare sprint double

China's Zhang Wenxiu reacts after winning a bronze medal in the women's hammer throw final at the 11th IAAF World Athletics Championship in Osaka yesterday. Reuters

Gay, 25, joined an exclusive club that includes fellow Americans Maurice Greene and the disgraced Justin Gatlin as the only men to win both the 100m and 200m crowns.

He never looked troubled as he raced to the line in 19.76 seconds ahead of Jamaica's Usain Bolt in 19.91 and countryman Wallace Spearmon in 20.05.

"Oh, it feels so great. Maurice Greene is one of my idols and I am proud to do the double like him," said Gay.

"Usain Bolt came out so fast and I had to work hard to catch him. I should be thankful to him to make this such a fast race.

"I have two golds and I want the third in relay."

Fellow 100m winner Veronica Campbell of Jamaica will attempt to match Gay's heroics in the women's final on Friday after qualifying second fastest in 22.44. American defending champion Allyson Felix was quickest into the decider.

Rawlinson has been running superbly this season after bouncing back from giving birth to a baby boy in December.

Her title had added kudos as she beat Russia's defending champion and world record holder Yuliya Pechonkina.

The 24-year-old surged ahead halfway through and warded off the Russian's last spurt on the home stretch to win in a season best 53.31 seconds.

Pechonkina, who set the world record of 52.34 four years ago, followed home at 53.50 with Poland's Anna Jesien third at 53.92.

"Tonight's victory is sensational. It has been only eight months since the birth of my son," said Rawlinson.

"There is some truth about them saying that mummys come back strong, as a mummy you can do anything."

Rawlinson, formerly Pittman, married former No 1 British hurdler Chris Rawlinson last year. She won the title in 2003 at the age of 20 to become the world's youngest hurdles champion.

The other two titles decided went to Germany's Betty Heidler in the women's hammer throw and Panama's Irving Saladino in the men's long jump.

Heidler threw 74.76m to edge former champion Yipsi Moreno of Cuba by just two centimetres. Asian record holder Zhang Wenxiu got China's first medal of the championships with a throw of 74.39m before committing her third foul of the six rounds by clattering the hammer into the net with her final throw.

"I'm proud to bring China its first medal," said Zhang. "It's a real confidence booster for next year's Olympics in Beijing."

Saladino maintained his flawless record this year with a leap of 8.57m.

Italy's Andrew Howe was second in 8.47 with Dwight Phillips of the United States third in 8.30.

China's top medal hope Liu Xiang, who lowered the world record to 12.88 last year, timed a modest 13.25 seconds as he eased into the 110m hurdles final.

Liu led until the last barrier but slowed at the line as Cuba's Dayron Robles leaned over in 13.21. Liu was the fifth fastest qualifier for Friday's final, while defending champion Ladji Doucoure crashed out.

"The race was easier than yesterday, but it's tomorrow's race that matters," said Liu. "Now, I'll be running the final to get a medal."

Liu will not be alone as his teammate Shi Dongpeng also advanced into the final by timing 13.24. Four years ago at the Paris Worlds, Dong also entered into final alongside Liu and finished seventh as Liu won a bronze.

In other heat action, title favorite Sileshi Sihine was a no-show in the 5,000m, leaving Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge to set the fastest pace going into the final.

Sihine was seen as a certain medalist but his endeavors in the 10,000m, where he finished runner-up to Ethiopian compatriot Kenenisa Bekele, may have proved his undoing.

AFP

(China Daily 08/31/2007 page20)