By Gary Smith, World-Track
RIETI — World champion Brigitte Foster-Hylton undefeated running after the Berlin world championships stretched on Sunday in Rieti, Italy after the Jamaican won the women’s 100 metres hurdles with a comfortable run.
Foster-Hylton, the world-leader at 12.46, clocked 12.78seconds in a strong headwind (-2.5m/s) to take the win over another Jamaican Nickiesha Wilson (12.84) and United States’ Damu Cherry (13.15).
Jamaican athletes were also dominant in the men’s race with Dwight Thomas continuing his good run in his first full season running the sprint hurdles with another win Sunday.
Thomas came back from a modest start to win the men’s 110m hurdles in 13.36secs – taking first place over fellow countryman Maurice Wignall (13.48), who just edged Spain’s Jackson Quinonez (13.49).
World and Olympic champion Shelly Ann Fraser did not get out to her familiar bullet start, but managed to get into her running form early to win the women’s 100m dash in 11.18, running into a -2.4m/s headwind.
Fraser won by a wide margin, as she easily outpaced her Jamaican compatriot Sherone Simpson, who finished second in 11.37 and USA’s Gloria Asumnu (11.52). Bulgarian Ivet Lalova was fourth in 11.86.
It was also a 1-2 Jamaican finish in the men’s race, as former world record holder Asafa Powell raced home to win in 9.99secs (-1.5 m/s). Powell defeated his training partner and Olympic relay gold medal winning teammate Nesta Carter, who came in 10.08 and Great Britain champion Simeon Williamson (10.18).
Earlier Powell cruised into the final with a heat winning performance of 10.15sec, while Carter won the second heat in 10.28.
