AthensCompleting a twoday journey that few, if any could have predicted, Yuliya Nesterenko captured the Olympic title in the 100 metres.
The 25-year-old Belarussian capped a phenomenal and consistent four race series with her 10.93 win, edging American collegian Lauryn Williams by just 3/100s of a second. The 20-year-old Williams, who raced to a gold medal at the 2002 World Junior Championships, had a clear lead on Nesterenko until seventy metres into the race, when the powerful Belarussian pulled even and eventually gained the advantage in the waning moments to capture her nation’s third athletics Olympic gold medal.
While a consistent performer this summer with a handful of low-key wins, few would have expected that Nesterenko would shatter her own national record with a 10.94 in the first round of competition. But in each race over the past two days, when she found herself trailing, or, as was the case in the semi final, in serious trouble, she managed to bounce back and forge ahead.
In Athens, the field was relatively even through the first forty metres until Williams and Campbell pulled ahead to a slight lead until Nesterenko made her move. With her strong come-from-behind form, she left little doubt that there indeed was a new name on the sprint scene, and behind her, a slew of young and extremely talented competitors ready to define a new sprint generation.
Williams too is a relatively new international name, and, with a strong lean in the final metres to hold off Jamaican Veronica Campbell by the narrowest of margins to claim the silver, displayed her uncanny ability to put to use the lessons she’s learned in just a few short years. Bronze winner Campbell, who preceded Williams as World Junior champion, is just 22; World leader Ivet Lalova of Bulgaria, fourth here in 11.00, is just twenty; and Campbell’s teammates Aleen Bailey (5th in 11.05) and Sherone Simpson (6th in 11.07), are just 23 and 20 respectively.
After mid race struggles, Debbie Ferguson (11.16) and US champion LaTasha Colander (11.18) were seventh and eighth.
BR
