Jamaicans add hurdles to their list of specialties
Americans Powell, Harper hit hurdles
BERLIN – First the sprints, now the hurdles.
The Jamaicans are taking over that, too, from the Americans.
Brigitte Foster-Hylton captured the 100-meter hurdles title Wednesday, giving the island nation its first gold in the event at the world championships. Delloreen Ennis-London also won the bronze for Jamaica.
“We’re doing very good and we’re happy,” Ennis-London said.
The Americans, who’ve already lost two sprint races to Jamaica, were counting on gold. Instead, they ran into obstacles.
Ginnie Powell smashed a middle hurdle and finished sixth, and Olympic champion Dawn Harper clipped the second hurdle and took seventh.
“It’s kind of sad, a letdown day,” Powell said. “Two of America’s best hurdlers couldn’t medal.”
That seems to be the case these days when the Jamaicans are involved. Then again, the country with a population of 2.8 million does boast the best runner on the planet.
Usain Bolt will try for his second world record today in the final of the 200. He obliterated his world-record mark in the 100 on Sunday, blazing through the line in 9.58 seconds.
Bolt looked invulnerable in his semifinal heat of the 200, ambling down the track in 20.08.
American men’s 400 runners Jeremy Wariner and LaShawn Merritt cruised into the finals by winning their heats. Merritt even sent a little message to the field by finishing in 44.37, the top time in the world this season.