PORTLAND, Sporting Alert – Barbara Pierre of USA matched away with the women’s 60m title at the 2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Portland, Oregon, on Saturday night.
Pierre, who came into the championships as one of the title contenders, delivered in front of her home supporters after she posted a time of 7.02 seconds to hold off the fast finishing Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands.
“I had to just stay in my lane and stay focused. The crowd was awesome, they just gave me that extra energy to come home,” the American champion said.
“I didn’t want to rejoice knowing that I didn’t know (before results were announced.) But when I dipped for the line I really didn’t feel anyone next to me, I just wanted to get secure and be sure that I had it.
I did get a great start, I knew I had to get a great start. But I stumbled on my third step, but I recovered and stayed in my zone, and whatever happened, happened. I got the win.
“(My strong race earlier) gave me a lot of confidence. I ran 7.07/7.06 the first round so I was on pace so that gave me a little edge.”
Schippers, who struggled with her start throughout the competition, finished the final with a late surge, but ran out of real estate, as Pierre held on for the gold.
The joint world-leader took the silver medal in 7.04 while Elaine Thompson of Jamaica bagged the bronze in 7.06.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aZDxEQNjQY
Women’s 60m Final – Result
Barbara PIERRE USA 7.02
Dafne SCHIPPERS NED 7.04
Elaine THOMPSON JAM 7.06
Michelle-Lee AHYE TTO 7.11
Asha PHILIP GBR 7.14
Tori BOWIE USA 7.14
Marie-Josee TA LOU CIV 7.29
USA also enjoyed success in the men’s 800 meters, as 23-year-old Boris Berian led from the gun to cross the finish line first in 1:45.83, with his American teammate Erik Sowinski taking the bronze in 1:47.22.
The silver medal was collected by Antoine Gakeme of Burundi in 1:46.65.
“It was simple,” Berian explained. “Take the lead right away and stay there. About 100 feet to go, I was definitely feeling it. The crowd kept me going and got me to gold.
“I wasn’t focused on the time to get out in front. I just wanted to get out there. I was just excited to represent USA. Just wanted to stay positive, trust in my training and hang on.”
In action in the field event, Michelle Carter produced an American indoor record of 20.21m in the final round of the women Shot Put to collect the gold medal.
Carter, who broke the previous American record of 19.89m, held by Jillian Camarena-Williams, defeated Anita Marton, who took the lead from her when throwing 19.33m in the final round but the Hungary thrower was unable to hold on for the gold.
“(The last throw) was great. I was just trying to think about what I needed to do, calm my nerves down and let my technique work for me,” said Carter.
New Zealand’s defending champion Valerie Adams, coming back from surgery, grabbed the bronze medal and proved that she is slowly returning to full fitness.
Elsewhere on the third night at the IAAF World Indoor Championships, Oluwakemi Adekoya of Bahrain led from start to finish to race home with the women’s 400 in 51.45.
American Ashley Spencer took home the silver medal in 51.72 and third went to compatriot Quanera Hayes in 51.76.
In the men’s event, world-leader and pre-championships favourite Bralon Taplin of Grenada, who looked impressive throughout the rounds, naively went out crazy in the first 200m and faded into fourth place in 46.56.
The gold medal was captured by Pavel Maslak (CZE) who successfully defended his world indoor 400m title with a time of 45.44. Abdalelah Haroun (QAT) was second in 45.59 with Deon Lendore (TTO) finishing third with a time of 46.17.
Meanwhile, Ashton Eaton of USA set a world-leading mark on his way to winning his third World Indoor Heptathlon title — tallying 6,470 points after finishing the competition with a 2:35.22 third place finish in the 1,000m.
In other events on day three, Sifan Hassan of Netherlands won the women’s 1500m title in 4:04.96 — holding off Ethiopians Dawit Seyaum (4:05.30) and Gudaf Tsegay (4:05.71), Bin Dong of China won the men’s triple jump with a leap of 17.33m while Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy took gold in the men’s high jump with a clearance of 2.36m.
