The USA completed the women’s hurdles double as Teona Rodgers shrugged off a stiff headwind (of -2.4m/s) to blitz to victory in 13.40.
Rodgers held a clear advantage from the third hurdle and produced a calm and assured performance in testing conditions, skipping with delight at the outcome.
Behind Rogers, Jamaica’s World Youth silver medallist Shermaine Williams again had to settle for the second place on the podium in 13.48 – 0.01 ahead of the bronze medallist, Cuba’s Belkis Milanes.
There was disappointment for world leader and pre-event favourite Alina Talai of Belarus as she wound up fourth and out of the medals in 13.50. Belgium’s Anna Zagre set a personal best of 13.55 for fifth.
The athletes got away to an even start with Rodgers taking a marginal advantage from lane six after the third hurdle with Milanes also prominent. Talai, who had the benefit of an impressive start in both the heats and semi-final, struggled to get into her early rhythm and was out of the medal picture at halfway.
Rodgers maintained her advantage from Milanes and Williams with Talai cutting back the deficit from hurdles six to eight. But just as the Belarus athlete looked like storming into contention she faded over the last two hurdles.
The US athlete held her form to land the gold with Williams edging a tight battle for silver from Milanes. Talai had to settle for fourth.
Rodgers became the third US athlete to win this title following Joyce Bates (1996) and Ronnetta Alexander (2004).
Steve Landells for the IAAF
