Ky Westbrook, Ariana Washington and Irene Ekelund in the girls 100m Final at the IAAF World Youth Championships 2013 (© Getty Images)
USA’s Ky Westbrook claimed a surprise 100m victory over the pre-final favourite and team mate Ariana Washington, clocking a fine 11.33 personal best ahead of her compatriot’s 11.40 that got her the silver medal.
The pair, in lanes four and six, were the quickest away once the sprinters got out of their blocks, and Westbrook, who hails from Arizona and whose father Michael played professional American football and was once on the cover of Sports Illustrated, edged in front of the her team mate from 70 metres.
Westbrook’s victory provided the USA’s first gold medal in Donetsk following the 17-year-old’s gradual progression in Ukraine, having registered 11.59 and 11.52 in the qualifying round and semi-final stage.
Her winning performance also represented the USA’s fifth title in this event in eight editions of these championships and follows in the footsteps of the likes of London 2012 Olympic Games 200m champion Alyson Felix, the 2001 100m winner in Debrecen with 11.57.
Washington, who has improved to 11.39 this year as well as a wind-assisted 11.18 at altitude, just edged out Ecuador’s Angela Tenorio, who clocked 11.41 for the bronze, clinching her nation’s first ever medal in any discipline at these championships.
The 17-year-old Tenorio, who recently ran 11.30, finished clear of Poland’s 16-year-old Ewa Swoboda and Sweden’s highly favoured Irene Ekelund, who placed fourth and fifth place respectively.
