Silver for Williams, Bolt chases double »

Silver for Williams, Bolt chases double

BEIJING – Former national champion Shericka Williams produced an impressive run to capture silver in the women’s 400m at the Olympic on Tuesday.

Williams, coached by Stephen Francis, improved on her personal best of 50.24 to secure the silver medal in 49.69 seconds.

Jamaica’s second entire, Rosemarie White, was seventh in 50.68. Great British’s Christie Ohuruogu won the event in 49.62.

American Sanya Richards, the overwhelming favourite for the gold, finished a disappointed third in 49.93.

Richards was quick to point out that “I’m not 100m per cent. “ just worked so hard for this,” she questioned. “This is so devastating for me. The gold would have been mine if it was for a hamstring grab,”

However, while Richards find excuses, Williams expressed joy at her performance. “”I’m very happy, a season best and personal best...I could not have asked for more”

“My coach told me I always have the potential. I did what my coach told me and it paid off,” Williams added.

Williams’ silver was the only bright spark for Jamaica inside the Bird’s Nest stadium. Brigitte Foster-Hylton and Dolloreen Ennis-London failed in their medal bids.

Ennis-London finished fifth in 12.65 and Foster-Hylton, who hinted this might be her last season, was sixth in 12.66. Dawn Harper of United States won the event in a personal best 12.54.

In the 200m, Usain Bolt advanced to the final of the men’s event. Bolt ran a comfortable 20.09 seconds to beat American Shawn Crawford (20.12) in his semi-final.

Chris Williams ran out in the semi-finals.

Veronica Campbell-Brown moved a step closer to defend her 200m title after her easy qualification for the semi-finals on Tuesday at the Bird's Nest stadium.

Campbell, who ran out of lane four in quarterfinal one, crossed the finish line in 22.64 seconds. American Allyson Felix (22.74) and Bahamian Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie (22.77) were second and third respectively. Both also booked places in the semi-finals set for Wednesday.

In quarterfinal three, Kerron Stewart finished second in 22.74 behind Russian Yuliya Chermoshanskaya, who had a personal best 22.63.

Sherone Simpson, who along with Stewart were joint silver medal winners in the women's 100m, won quarterfinal four in 22.60, the fastest time going into the semi-finals. American Muna Lee finished behind Simpson in 22.83.

In the men’s 110m hurdles, Maurice Wignall (13.36) won his quarterfinal heat to secure a spot in the semi-finals, along  national champion Richard Phillips(13.48) who advanced as one of the fastest losers.

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