EVENT REPORT – WOMEN’s 60 Metres Final

DOHA, March 14, 2010 – Jones-Ferrette or Jeter? That one question had formed the basis of all the pre-race talk for the women’s 60m, after the pair had dominated the event on the circuit this year. No other woman even came into the equation. Until, that is, Veronica Campbell-Brown made her intentions known.

The Jamaican ran her second fastest ever 60m to qualify for the final, but the expectation was still with Jones-Ferrette and Jeter, who occupied the top two places on the 2010 world list coming into the final with respective times of 6.97 and 7.02.

But just metres into the race and suddenly all eyes were on Campbell-Brown. The 2007 World 100m Champion got off to a perfect start, while Jones-Ferrette’s start was just so-so. She was up by a metre at halfway, but Jones-Ferrette and Jeter were not able to close the gap. Campbell-Brown, who was competing in her first ever IAAF World Indoor Championships, held on for victory to cause one of the biggest upsets of the weekend, setting a PB of 7.00 to boot.

Jones-Ferrette clocked her second best time ever with 7.03 for silver, as third-placed Jeter ran 7.05, the fastest ever time for a bronze medal at the IAAF World Indoor Championships, making it one of the highest quality – and most shocking – 60m finals ever.

Campbell-Brown’s team-mate, Sheri-Ann Brooks, set a PB of 7.14 to finish equal fourth with Ruddy Zang-Milama, who recorded the highest ever placing for an athlete from the Gabon at either a World Indoor or outdoor Championships.

Bahamian veteran and former champion Chandra Sturrup set a season’s best of 7.16 for sixth, while 2008 bronze medallist Tahesia Harrigan of the British Virgin Islands this time had to settle for seventh in 7.17. Frenchwoman Myriam Soumaré, the only European finalist, clocked 7.29 for eighth.

“I knew the race would be very competitive, but I was very confident and mentally focused,” said Campbell-Brown. “I executed the race as well as I could, and I am very grateful.”

Jones-Ferrette became the first ever female medallist at an IAAF World senior Championships indoors or outdoors, and was gracious in defeat. “When I looked up from the finish line, my only thought was for a medal, and it happened so I’m happy,” she said. “It’s the first ever for my country, and is a great boost for the summer.”

Meanwhile Jeter was content with her bronze medal. “I tweaked my ankle a bit on Friday, but it was fine today,” she said. “I actually had a good start and transitioned well, but then I didn’t have it. Outdoors, I know I have the potential to improve, but I’m not putting pressure on myself for a specific time.”

And so it is that Campbell-Brown maintains her impressive record of winning a medal at every championships in which she has competed. Shock of the weekend? It’s certainly right up there.