MOSCOW, March 10: American athletes dominated the opening day of the World Indoor Championships, taking home three out of the four gold medals here on Friday.

All three of the Americans produced the best performances in the world this year for their events.

Me’Lisa Barber blasted out of her blocks and was never headed en-route to winning the women’s 60 metres in 7.01 seconds.

Her compatriot Lauryn Williams, the marginal favourite after a sparkling semifinal victory, closed Barber down from the halfway point.

At the line only the thickness of a vest, a phrase often used metaphorically but in this instance literally, separated them.

Williams was given the same time as the winner but had to settle for the silver medal, losing out by just a few thousandths of a second for the closest ever finish to a World Indoor Championships race.

Belgium’s Kim Gevaert rose to the occasion to lead home the European challenge and get the bronze in a national record of 7.10, edging out France’s highly favoured Christine Arron.

Leonard Scott’s victory over Russia’s Andrey Yepishin over 60 metres was almost as close as the women’s contest.

Scott had a great start and was half a stride ahead at 10 metres but Yepishin was on his shoulder throughout the race.

With 10 metres to go, Yepishin had closed the slight gap but Scott found another gear to win in 6.50 seconds, matching the world-leading time he had run in the semifinals.

Yepishin got Russia’s first ever medal at the distance in a national record 6.52.

The United Status picked up another 60 metres medal when Terrence Trammell, favourite for the 60 metres hurdles on Saturday, hung on for the bronze in 6.54.

Reese Hoffa beat Barber to the accolade of becoming the first world champion of these championships when he won the men’s shot put with a second round 22.11 metres.—Agencies