Ivory Coast’s Murielle Ahoure ran a storming race to win the Silver medal in the women’s 100m final at the 14th IAAF World Athletics Championships in [link id=”144″ tax=”post_tag” text=”Moscow” target=”_blank”], Russia.
The 26-year-old Ivorian came through strong with 10 metres left to finished second in 10.93 seconds and thus became the first African woman to win a World Championships medal in the blue-ribbon event.
“I’m so happy and so excited. All my training was gearing me up for this race, this final, and to go out there and do it so beautifully – it is overwhelming,” said a beaming [link id=”205″ tax=”post_tag” text=”Ahoure” target=”_blank”].
“It’s such an honour for me to win a medal for the Ivory Coast. I’ve been really enjoying my experience here in Russia, fans support us, the Russian people always ask to take pictures with me. I still have the 200m to run, I’m really looking forward to Wednesday.”
Tw0-time Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce from Jamaica won the race in 10.71 seconds with defending World champion Carmelita Jeter of the USA settling for the Bronze medal in 10.94 seconds.
Inexplicably Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare, who had been touted as a potential medallist after controlled wins in earlier rounds and top form this season, finished a disappointing sixth in 11.04 seconds.
Ohuruogu denies Montsho
Botswana’s defending World champion, [link id=”204″ tax=”post_tag” text=”Amantle Montsho” target=”_blank”], lost her title in a cruel fashion after being caught on the line in the women’s 400m yet again by Christine Ohuruogu of Great Britain.
Both athletes were timed at 49.41 seconds, a British record for Ohuruogu, who got the gold by timing her dip to perfection whilst Montsho for some strange reason failed to lean forward and lost the gold by four thousandths of a second.
Behind them, Russian Antonina Krivoshapka picked the Bronze medal finishing in 49.78 seconds.
“I am both happy and sad at the same time. At home, they were expecting me to win the gold here, so it is a bit disappointing, but I am still a medallist,” said Montsho
“I did not see Christine coming from behind. I think if I knew that, I would pull my chest forward and would have made it.
“She know how to run and how to plan the race, she is very strong in the finish. Of course, I wanted to defend my title from Daegu but I am proud to be silver too.”
