MOSCOW, Russia – Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has become the first Caribbean woman to win world sprint double titles.
Fraser-Pryce achieved the honour on Friday, the seventh day of the 14th IAAF World Athletics Championships at the Luzhniki Stadium.
The Jamaican sprinter, who regained her 100-metre crown lost to Carmelita Jeter in 2011, completed the double in 22.17 seconds, having won the 100m on Monday.
The 200-metre title adds to two 100m titles won in Berlin 2009 and here on Monday.
Drawn in lane four with danger woman Allyson Felix behind, the women’s 200m final was expected to be very competitive.
Fraser-Pryce, who was well aware that only a fast start and good curve would get the job done, went about her business in similar fashion.
Felix tried to follow the fast starter, but pulled up just before she could straighten, which left Fraser-Pryce without any challenge.
Murielle Ahoure of Ivory Coast took another silver in 22.32, the same time as Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare.
Fraser-Pryce, who joined East Germans Silke Gladisch (1987) and Katrin Krabbe (1991) to win the sprint double, had time to ease down across the line in jubilation.
“It was very hard, but for me, lots of hard work went into me taking the double here,” said Fraser-Pryce in describing the end results.
“Last year was an experience for me doing the double in London and it really helped me to be successful here,” she continued. “And the fact I did so well in the 100m, I had a little confidence going in, because I want to blast that first 100m like it was nobody’s business.”
However, in the most exciting final of the night, high school boy Javon Francis produced a stunning run, which took Jamaica from fifth on the anchor leg, to silver behind USA.
The Jamaican team, which included Rusheen McDonald, Edino Steele and Omar Johnson, stopped the clock in a season best 2:59.88 behind USA, anchored by LaShawn Merritt, 2:58.71, a world leading time.
Trinidad and Tobago with Jehue Gordon on anchor did 3:01.74 for sixth, while Russia got the bronze medal with 2:59.90.
Jamaica’s Demar Forbes leapt 8:02m for seventh position in the men’s long jump final won by Russian Aleksandr Menkov with 8.56m, a world leading mark.