US set mixed relay world record, Fraser-Pryce back to reclaim 100m title

DOHA - The United States renewed their own meters mixed relay world record en route to winning the title at the athletics world championships here on Sunday.

The mixed relay event, entering the world championships for the first time, saw the United States set the world record in three minutes 9.34 seconds to beat their own world mark of 3:12.42 on Saturday in the heats.

Jamaica came second in 3:11.78, national record while Bahrain took bronze in an area record time of 3:11.82.

"The event is fun, very exciting. The people in the stands must have been very excited to see men fight against women," said Jamaica's Tiffany James.

Jamaica's double Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, 32, came back to the world championships to regain her crown in the 100m.

Fraser-Pryce, seven-time world champion, missed the 2017 London worlds as she gave birth to a baby boy in August that year but returned to her throne in Doha in a world leading time of 10.71. British Dina Asher-Smith finished second in 10.83 and Marie-Josee Ta Lou of Cote d'Ivoire came third in 10.90.

"Standing here having done it again at 32 and holding my baby, is a dream come true. I had no sleep last night. Last time I was at a major championships was 2016 and I just could not sleep with nerves," said Fraser-Pryce.

European indoor champion Anzhelika Sidorova, the Russian athlete competing as authorized neutral athlete here, cleared 4.95 meters to lift the women's pole vault gold medal.

Sidorova and Olympic silver medalist Sandi Morris of the United States slugged it out at the height of 4.90 when Sidorova managed to clear it on her final attempt. Olympic champion Katerina Stefanidi of Greece bagged bronze in 4.80.

"All my performance at world championships were too unsuccessful. Certainly I looked forward to stopping this bad tradition," said the 28-year-old. "I was crying because I was really happy."

American Christian Taylor, the twice Olympic champion, won his fourth world title in the triple jump in 17.92 meters. His compatriot Will Claye took silver in 17.74 and Hugues Fabrice Zango of Burkina Faso was third in 17.66.