Pearson takes solace in hurdles gold
Source: Agencies |
October 12, 2010, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
SALLY Pearson finally got her gold, winning the 100-meter hurdles yesterday at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
The Olympic silver medalist from Australia thought she had won the 100 last week, but hours after crossing the line first she was disqualified for a previous false start.
This time, there was no question. She got off fast and led for the entire race, finishing in a Commonwealth Games record of 12.67 seconds at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to win her first games gold medal.
The previous mark of 12.70 was set by Gillian Russell of Jamaica in 1998 at Kuala Lumpur.
Angela Whyte of Canada was second yesterday in 12.98, and Andrea Miller took bronze in 13.25.
"It was a very difficult week. I tried my best to keep training and keep my focus. Today I was probably the last one out of the blocks," the 24-year-old Pearson said after her win yesterday.
After Pearson was disqualified in the 100, Osayomi Oludamola was promoted to gold. But the Nigerian has failed a doping test and could lose the medal.
Cydonie Mothersill of the Cayman Islands won the women's 200, which had been scheduled for Sunday but was postponed because the Cypriot team protested the disqualification of sprinter Eleni Artymata.
The appeal was denied on Sunday night and Artymata did not race yesterday.
Mothersill pulled ahead early and was never in danger of being overtaken, winning in 22.89 seconds. Abiodun Oyepitan of England earned silver in 23.26 and Adrienne Power of Canada was third in 23.52.
Also, Olympic champion Steve Hooker began his quest to retain his Commonwealth Games title in the pole vault, while Nancy Jebet Langat will try to add the 800 title to her 1,500 gold.
Late on Sunday, a 19,000 full house roared India's men's hockey team to a crushing 7-4 victory over rival Pakistan. India secured a place in the semifinals amid a party atmosphere, complete with Bollywood music.
"The crowd was excellent," Indian striker Shivendra Singh said.
"The pressure was on them (Pakistan) right from the start. They had quite a few new players and the inexperience put them under pressure."
Hockey's popularity in India stems from a glorious past. The men's team won six successive Olympic golds from 1928-56 but the team has been in steady decline since then.
India will face England next today for a place in the final.
Earlier, the Commonwealth Games Federation President Mike Fennell said Nigeria's Oludamola tested positive for the banned stimulant Methylexanemine.
"Any positive test, whether it is in a high-profile event or not, is something that is very much regretted for a clean games, clean sport and a clean competition," Fennell said, adding that no decision had been made on the medals.
"One doesn't know what kind of damage will occur as the result of this test but we just want to let everyone know that we are very vigilant and the testing and laboratory analysis is of the highest standards."
Fennell said Oludamola has been notified of the adverse finding and has requested the testing of the "B" sample.
"This is something we just have to work with and make sure that we do our part in monitoring and eliminating doping in sport," Fennell said.
Elias Gora, the Nigerian team's chef de mission, said he had not yet been informed of the positive test.
"But if the allegations are true it's most unfortunate for us," Gora said. "I'm disappointed and I'm sure people back home will also be disappointed, too."
Gora also said that all Nigerian athletes were given tests prior to the games except those that were in the United States or Europe.
"Since Oludamola was in the US she didn't go through the process," Gora said.
The Olympic silver medalist from Australia thought she had won the 100 last week, but hours after crossing the line first she was disqualified for a previous false start.
This time, there was no question. She got off fast and led for the entire race, finishing in a Commonwealth Games record of 12.67 seconds at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to win her first games gold medal.
The previous mark of 12.70 was set by Gillian Russell of Jamaica in 1998 at Kuala Lumpur.
Angela Whyte of Canada was second yesterday in 12.98, and Andrea Miller took bronze in 13.25.
"It was a very difficult week. I tried my best to keep training and keep my focus. Today I was probably the last one out of the blocks," the 24-year-old Pearson said after her win yesterday.
After Pearson was disqualified in the 100, Osayomi Oludamola was promoted to gold. But the Nigerian has failed a doping test and could lose the medal.
Cydonie Mothersill of the Cayman Islands won the women's 200, which had been scheduled for Sunday but was postponed because the Cypriot team protested the disqualification of sprinter Eleni Artymata.
The appeal was denied on Sunday night and Artymata did not race yesterday.
Mothersill pulled ahead early and was never in danger of being overtaken, winning in 22.89 seconds. Abiodun Oyepitan of England earned silver in 23.26 and Adrienne Power of Canada was third in 23.52.
Also, Olympic champion Steve Hooker began his quest to retain his Commonwealth Games title in the pole vault, while Nancy Jebet Langat will try to add the 800 title to her 1,500 gold.
Late on Sunday, a 19,000 full house roared India's men's hockey team to a crushing 7-4 victory over rival Pakistan. India secured a place in the semifinals amid a party atmosphere, complete with Bollywood music.
"The crowd was excellent," Indian striker Shivendra Singh said.
"The pressure was on them (Pakistan) right from the start. They had quite a few new players and the inexperience put them under pressure."
Hockey's popularity in India stems from a glorious past. The men's team won six successive Olympic golds from 1928-56 but the team has been in steady decline since then.
India will face England next today for a place in the final.
Earlier, the Commonwealth Games Federation President Mike Fennell said Nigeria's Oludamola tested positive for the banned stimulant Methylexanemine.
"Any positive test, whether it is in a high-profile event or not, is something that is very much regretted for a clean games, clean sport and a clean competition," Fennell said, adding that no decision had been made on the medals.
"One doesn't know what kind of damage will occur as the result of this test but we just want to let everyone know that we are very vigilant and the testing and laboratory analysis is of the highest standards."
Fennell said Oludamola has been notified of the adverse finding and has requested the testing of the "B" sample.
"This is something we just have to work with and make sure that we do our part in monitoring and eliminating doping in sport," Fennell said.
Elias Gora, the Nigerian team's chef de mission, said he had not yet been informed of the positive test.
"But if the allegations are true it's most unfortunate for us," Gora said. "I'm disappointed and I'm sure people back home will also be disappointed, too."
Gora also said that all Nigerian athletes were given tests prior to the games except those that were in the United States or Europe.
"Since Oludamola was in the US she didn't go through the process," Gora said.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
