There is a new world 100m champion and he hails from St Kitts and Nevis - Kim COLLINS. In the brash bravado laden world of men's sprinting it is refreshing to see a champion so understated.
The final saw two Americans, two Britons, two Nigerians and two athletes from the Caribbean lining up in the blocks.
The start was even, with Darren CAMPBELL (GBR) marginally getting the better of it. Until halfway the field stayed almost directly in a line with only the Nigerians, Deji ALIU and Uchenna EMEDOLU dropping back slightly. As the momentum built athletes started to stake their claims. Suprisingly, it wasn't the Americans. The USA has won all but two men's world 100m titles, Linford CHRISTIE (GBR) in 1993 and Donovan BAILEY (CAN) two years later.
Having finished fourth in his semi-final Commonwealth champion Collins was stranded out in lane one. He started to surge forward. Fresh from a world junior record in the second round Darrel BROWN (TRI) was right in the mix, with Campbell also hurling himself at the line.
Collins was victorious by the smallest of margins, stopping the clock in 10.07.
Brown out dipped Campbell for the silver. He is the youngest 100m medallist ever, not turning 19 until October 11. Dwain CHAMBERS (GBR) was the next best of the rest. He Brown and Campbell were all awarded the same time, 10.08s, so one hundredth separated the first four. Brown's effort also eclipses Ato BOLDON's bronze medal in 1995, as his country's best 100m finish.
World record holder and new dad, Tim MONTGOMERY (USA) was next home in the USA's worst showing since Mike MARSH's fifth in Gothenburg in 1995.
Despite looking impressive in the semis USA champ Bernard WILLIAMS couldn't replicate it in the final and came home in sixth. The final two places were filled by Aliu and Emedolu.
For the first time in 20 years no man broke 10 seconds for the hundred and Collins 10.07 equals Carl LEWIS' (USA) time from the inaugural world championships in Helsinki in 1983 as the slowest winning time. The fastest times came from the eventual winners as Collins and Brown clocked 10.02 and 10.01 in the second round.
Despite the relatively slow times the racing was tight and the Caribbean won the bragging rights with first and second. Great Britain filled the next two spots, then the USA, then Nigeria.
The final saw two Americans, two Britons, two Nigerians and two athletes from the Caribbean lining up in the blocks.
The start was even, with Darren CAMPBELL (GBR) marginally getting the better of it. Until halfway the field stayed almost directly in a line with only the Nigerians, Deji ALIU and Uchenna EMEDOLU dropping back slightly. As the momentum built athletes started to stake their claims. Suprisingly, it wasn't the Americans. The USA has won all but two men's world 100m titles, Linford CHRISTIE (GBR) in 1993 and Donovan BAILEY (CAN) two years later.
Having finished fourth in his semi-final Commonwealth champion Collins was stranded out in lane one. He started to surge forward. Fresh from a world junior record in the second round Darrel BROWN (TRI) was right in the mix, with Campbell also hurling himself at the line.
Collins was victorious by the smallest of margins, stopping the clock in 10.07.
Brown out dipped Campbell for the silver. He is the youngest 100m medallist ever, not turning 19 until October 11. Dwain CHAMBERS (GBR) was the next best of the rest. He Brown and Campbell were all awarded the same time, 10.08s, so one hundredth separated the first four. Brown's effort also eclipses Ato BOLDON's bronze medal in 1995, as his country's best 100m finish.
World record holder and new dad, Tim MONTGOMERY (USA) was next home in the USA's worst showing since Mike MARSH's fifth in Gothenburg in 1995.
Despite looking impressive in the semis USA champ Bernard WILLIAMS couldn't replicate it in the final and came home in sixth. The final two places were filled by Aliu and Emedolu.
For the first time in 20 years no man broke 10 seconds for the hundred and Collins 10.07 equals Carl LEWIS' (USA) time from the inaugural world championships in Helsinki in 1983 as the slowest winning time. The fastest times came from the eventual winners as Collins and Brown clocked 10.02 and 10.01 in the second round.
Despite the relatively slow times the racing was tight and the Caribbean won the bragging rights with first and second. Great Britain filled the next two spots, then the USA, then Nigeria.
