Fraser-Pryce wins, US men set relay record

SOPOT - Reuters

Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce celebrates after winning the women's 60m final in the world indoor athletics championships at the ERGO Arena in Sopot March 9, 2014. REUTERS photo

Double Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce may not like running indoors, but the Jamaican proved again on March 9 why she is the world's dominant female sprinter. 

A blistering start propelled the reigning Olympic and world 100 meters gold medalist to the fastest women's 60m in four years, 6.98 seconds, as she made a triumphant debut at world indoor championships in Sopot, Poland.  Only six women have ever run faster. 

Americans dominated the three-day meeting in Sopot, Poland, capping the championships with a world indoor record in the men's 4x400m as Kyle Clemons, David Verburg, Kind Butler III and Calvin Smith Jr. triumphed in 3 minutes, 2.13 seconds.

The time was 0.70 seconds faster than the record set by a U.S. team at the 1999 championships.

First time

Fraser-Pryce had never run in the indoor meeting before this week. "It is an amazing feeling," the 2008 and 2012 Olympic 100m gold medalist told reporters after becoming only the second woman to hold world titles at 60, 100 and 200m.

Murielle Ahoure took the silver in 7.01 with Tianna Bartoletta third in 7.06.

Three-time 3,000m champion Bernard Lagat was denied a repeat title.

Caleb Ndiku turned on the afterburners in the final 500m and sped to victory in 7:54.94 with Lagat claiming silver in 7:55.22. 

"I knew that Lagat and [Olympic 5000m silver medalist Dejen] Gebremesekel were good, but I also knew that I was fast in the last lap so I had to wait and see, I did not waste my energy," said the leggy Ndiku, sporting flaming dyed red hair. 

Lagat, 39, still became the oldest male ever to win a medal at the world indoor championships.
Turkey’s Ali Kaya failed to qualify for the final.

Another athlete representing Turkey, İlham Tanui Özbilen, who won a silver medal in Istanbul 2012, finished the men’s 1,500m final on seventh spot. 

Gamze Bulut, Turkey’s Olympic silver medalist, disappointed in the women’s 1,500m final, finishing last of 20 athletes.

In the women's 3,000m. Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba, whose winter of glory had already produced world records at 1,500 and 3,000m, won convincingly in 8:55.04. 

Qatari Mutaz Essa Barshim outduelled Russian Olympic champion Ivan Ukhov in the high jump, winning on fewer misses as both cleared 2.38 meters.