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Shelly-Ann Fraser of Jamaica celebrates winning the women's 100m final of the athletics competition at the National Stadium Sunday. [Agencies]
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Shelly-Ann Fraser led an unprecedented women's 100m Olympic medal sweep for Jamaica Sunday, devastating American rivals in a head-to-head showdown to decide the world's fastest woman.
Three Jamaicans and three Americans featured in the finals but only disappointment awaited US women.
One night after Usain Bolt thrilled Jamaicans by winning the men's 100m in a world-record 9.69 seconds, Fraser powered to victory in 10.78, with Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart sharing second in 10.98.
For the Americans, Athens Olympic runner-up and 2005 World champion Lauryn Williams was fourth in 11.03; US champion Muna Lee fifth in 11.07; and 2003 World champion Torri Edwards eighth and last in 11.20.
"I was inspired by last night," Fraser said. "This is a crazy Bolt effect. I am just so happy to put Jamaica on the map. No one expected me to win so there was no pressure."
Fraser, whose prior claim to fame came during the runner-up finish in the 4x100 relay in last year's World Championships, surged ahead at the start and pulled away from Simpson midway into the race. Stewart caught up with Simpson at the line for the first 1-2-3 sweep in the event.
Her time moved Fraser level as the eighth-best all-time performer, alongside Americans Torri Edwards and Dawn Sowell. "We made history, just like Bolt," Simpson said. "We're all great athletes and I'm very excited about the tremendous achievement. We're very good athletes and this says a lot for our country."
American Edwards, whose 2008 world-best time was equaled by Fraser, said she thought she had false started and expected to be called back. "I thought I had moved before the gun," Edwards said. "I had to go but I was off step. That threw me off a lot. I'm pretty sure it was a false start."
Defending Olympic champion Yuliya Nesterenko of Belarus was eliminated in the semi-finals earlier.
(China Daily/The Olympian)
(實習生吳昭文 英語點津 Helen 編輯）
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