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News10 Mar 2006


Men's 60m FINAL

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Living up to expectations, Leonard Scott of the U.S.A. captured the World 60m title in a tantalizingly close race.

Propelled by a powerful start and commanding mid-race performance, the 26-year-old, a finalist in the 100m at last summer’s outdoor World championships, reached the line in 6.50, equalling his world-leading performance set in the semi-finals.

“This is just a phenomenal feeling,” said Scott, who returned to the sport in 2004 after a stint playing Americna football. “I’ve had better starts in my career, but I can’t complain.”

Scott became the fourth American to win the short dash title since 1999. The last, 2003 winner Justin Gatlin, was a teammate of Scott’s at the University of Tennessee.

The battle was expected to be a close one, but few would have expected who would ultimately provide the fiercest challenge. It would come in the form of 24-year-old Andrey Yepishin, who equalled the Russian record of 6.52, two one-hundredths ahead of American Terrence Trammell, to produce the first major upset of the championships.

“I never dreamt that a silver medal was possible,” said a delighted Yepishin, whose fastest performance of the season prior to the championships was a 6.61. “I was thinking maybe the bronze would be possible.” Yepishin’s previous personal best of 6.58 was set last year.

“I didn’t have a good start, and that’s why I wasn’t able to win,” said Trammell, who will continue competition tomorrow in the first round of the 60m Hurdles.

Finishing fourth was Slovenia’s Matic Osovnikar, who despite a lacklustre start, equalled the 6.58 national record he set in Budapest two years ago when he finished fifth. The 26-year-old dentistry student from Skofja Loka, the double sprint champion at last year’s Mediterranean Games, edged Nigerian Olusoji Fasuba, who was also credited with a 6.58. European record holder Ronald Pognon was sixth with a season’s best 6.61.

BR

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