Sanya Richards won her third straight women's 400m title Sunday at the
IAAF World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, Germany, becoming the first
athlete ever to win a 200-400 double at the meet and posting one of
three American titles on the day.
The winner of the 200m on Saturday, Richards went out hard Sunday in the
400, knowing all three Olympic medalists were in the field. In addition
to bronze medalist Richards, the gold medalist, Christine Ohuguoru of
Great Britain, and silver medalist Shericka Williams of Jamaica, were in
the race.
Although Ohuguoru ran her usual strong final straight, Richards won
easily in 50.41, with Ohuguoru second in 50.83. Jamaica's Novlene
Williams was third in 51.30, and American Mary Wineberg was sixth in
51.65.
Olympic bronze medalist David Oliver led a very strong American showing
in the men's 110m hurdles, winning in 13.22, with Ryan Wilson third
(13.54), Aries Merritt fourth (13.56), Tyron Akins sixth (13.62) and
Joel Brown eighth (13.81).
Olympic Trials champion Derek Miles (5.80m/19-0.25) and American record
holder Brad Walker (5.70m/18-8.25) went 1-2 in an unpredictable the
men's pole vault, as temperatures began the competition at roughly 52
degrees Fahrenheit. Miles' mark was a seasonal best.
Olympic gold medalist Stephanie Brown Trafton was third in the women's
discus with a throw of 62.23m/204-2, with Olympic Trials champ Aretha
Thurmond sixth with 56.99m/186-11 and Becky Breisch seventh with
53.92m/176-11.
Team USA went 3-4-5-6 in the women's 100, led by Marshevet Hooker in
third (11.06) behind Olympic gold medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser (10.94) and
bronze medalist Kerron Stewart (11.06) of Jamaica. In a photo finish,
Stewart got the nod for second over Hooker. Also for the U.S., Carmelita
Jeter was fourth (11.21), Torri Edwards fifth (11.22) and Lauryn
Williams sixth, also in 11.22, in a blanket finish that saw Chandra
Sturrup of the Bahamas seventh in 11.23 and Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie of
the Bahamas eighth in 11.25.
Tiffany Ross-Williams placed third in the women's 400m hurdles (55.16)
with Olympic silver medalist Sheena Tosta fifth (55.33), behind gold
medalist Melanie Walker of Jamaica in first (54.06). American Christine
Spence was seventh in 58.15.
In other American performances, Rodney Martin was fifth (20.66) and Joel
Brown eighth (21.23) in the men's 200. Olympic Trials champion Chaunte
Howard was fifth in the women's high jump with a height of 1.97m/6-5.5),
and Miguel Pate was sixth in the men's long jump (7.99m/26-2.75); Liz
Wanless was sixth (17.72m/58-1.75) and Kristin Heaston seventh
(16.87m/55-4.25) in the women's shot put. Olympic Trials champion
Bernard Lagat was sixth in the men's 1,500 in 3:38.79 and Sara Slattery
eighth in the women's 3,000 in 9:16.24.
For complete results and event reports, visit IAAF.org.
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