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Okagbare Beats World Champion, Wins London Diamond League

By .ngrguardiannews
Sports News Okagbare Beats World Champion, Wins London Diamond League
JUL 15, 2012 LISTEN

NIGERIA'S Blessing Okagbare scored a surprise victory in London Diamond League yesterday in the women's 100m, after upstaging a strong field, which included Olympic champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica and reigning world champion, Carmelita Jeter.

Fraser-Pryce, the fastest woman in the world this year, never recovered her composure after stumbling after leaving the blocks and appeared to ease up half way through the race rather than chase a lost cause.

Okagbare, who had earlier dipped under 11 seconds in the heats, then held off the strong finishing American Jeter to cross in 11.01sec, with Jeter finishing in 11.03 and Tianna Madison third in 11.13sec.

It was not the only upset of the day.
Australian world champion, hurdler Sally Pearson, also suffered a surprising defeat yesterday on a day of upsets at a rain-soaked Crystal Palace.

Olympic favourite Pearson, the 2011 world championship gold medallist, was beaten in the 100m hurdles for only the second time in 34 races as American Kellie Wells stormed home in 12.57secs.

“I'm feeling really good,” said Wells. “It's not about racing, it's about executing-I know that if I execute I'm going to be hard to beat,” the 29-year-old added.

Pearson, the fastest woman in the world this year after clocking 12.40sec in Paris earlier this month, finished second in 12.59sec with American Virginia Crawford third in 12.74sec.

The event had earlier seen a tearful exit from controversial British sprinter Tiffany Porter, with the American-born athlete finishing last in her heat citing an unspecified fitness problem.

The final event of the day saw Britain's defending Olympic 400m champion, Christine Ohuruogu, indicate she is hitting form at the right time with victory over reigning world champion, Amantle Montsho of Botswana.

Ohuruogo overhauled Montsho in the final few metres of a race held in torrential rain with a season's best of 50.42 sec. Montsho finished in 50.56sec with Rosemarie Whyte of Jamaica third.

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