September 01, 2007	Saturday	Sha’aban 18, 1428

OSAKA (Japan), Aug 31: American Allyson Felix foiled Veronica Campbell’s gold rush on Friday, streaking past the Jamaican to win the 200m title by the largest margin in the World Athletics Championships history.

Jeremy Wariner kept the stars and stripes fluttering in Japan with an expected victory in the 400m and Liu Xiang finally gave China something to cheer about when he stormed to the 110m hurdles title.

Campbell had been bidding to emulate Tyson Gay’s men’s sprint double, having won the 100 metres on Monday, but was no match for Felix who retained her title in the year’s best time of 21.81 seconds.

She beat Campbell by 0.53 seconds – the biggest margin in 11 championships – and her time was the quickest by a woman over the distance since compatriot Inger Miller won the 1999 championships in a time 0.04 seconds faster.

Wariner retained his world title in style, the Texan powering off the final bend to clock 43.45 seconds. LaShawn Merritt took silver in 43.96 with Angelo Taylor completing an all-American podium with a time of 44.32. The US became the first nation to sweep the men’s 400m.

China’s Liu snatched gold in the high hurdles to complete his collection of major titles.

The Olympic champion and world record holder’s winning time of 12.95 seconds was well outside his best of 12.88 but was enough to see off America’s Terrence Trammell and David Payne.

Russia’s Olga Kaniskina easily won gold in the women’s 20 kilometres walk after a farcical start to the race.

The pace-setters attempted to leave Osaka’s Nagai stadium track for the road a lap early and had to be chased back in by red-faced officials.

Results of finals on Friday:

Women’s 200 metres: 1. Allyson Felix (US) 21.81 seconds; 2. Veronica Campbell (Jamaica) 22.34; 3. Susanthika Jayasinghe (Sri Lanka) 22.63; 4. Torri Edwards (US) 22.65; 5. Sanya Richards (US) 22.70; 6. Aleen Bailey (Jamaica) 22.72; 7. LaShauntea Moore (US) 22.97; 8. Cydonie Mothersill (Cayman Islands) 23.08.

Women’s javelin: 1. Barbora Spotakova (Czech Republic) 67.07 metres; 2. Christina Obergfoell (Germany) 66.46; 3. Steffi Nerius (Germany) 64.42; 4. Nikola Brejchova (Czech Republic) 63.73; 5. Savva Lika (Greece) 63.13; 6. Sonia Bisset (Cuba) 61.74; 7. Mariya Abakumova (Russia) 61.43; 8. Linda Stahl (Germany) 61.03; 9. Barbara Madejczyk (Poland) 58.37; 10. Olga Ivankova (Ukraine) 57.87; 11. Felicia Moldovan (Romania) 55.71; 12. Paula Tarvainen (Finland) 53.50.

Men’s 110-metre hurdles: 1. Liu Xiang (China) 12.95 seconds; 2. Terrence Trammell (US) 12.99; 3. David Payne (US) 13.02; 4. Dayron Robles (Cuba) 13.15; 5. Shi Dongpeng (China) 13.19; 6. Sergiy Demidyuk (Ukraine) 13.22; 7. Jackson Quinonez (Spain) 13.33; 8. Maurice Wignall (Jamaica) 13.39.—Reuters