Perdita FELICIEN (CAN) produced one of the biggest surprises of these World Championships. With Gail DEVERS (USA) left out of the final, Brigitte FOSTER (JAM), was the only favourite in the final.
However, Foster did not get out of the blocks as usual, and it was Felicien, a double NCAA-champion from 2002 and 2003 for the University of Illinois, who was in charge of the race from the beginning.
The Canadian, who will be 23 years old on 29 August, competing in her first major championship final, started very quickly and was leading the race clearly by half way.
Foster, the fastest in the world over this distance during 2003, tried desperately to come back in the end, but dipped to the line too early and fell quite badly at the finish. Felicien?s winning time of 12.53 also broke the Canadian national record previously held by Katie ANDERSON (12.61/1999).
Behind Felicien the rest were quite even until half way, but then Foster and Miesha MCKELVY (USA) started to move forward. Pre-race favourite Foster grabbed the silver medal, in 12.57, and McKelvy was well clear of the others to finish in third place, with 12.67.
The quality of the race was pretty ordinary in historical terms, but the world champion Felicien beat her personal best by 0.14 seconds despite a small headwind.
In fourth place was Glory ALOZIE (ESP), who just barely got to the final, in 12.75. Aurealia TRYWIANSKA (POL) was given the same time for fifth place and Jenny ADAMS (USA), who ran a convincing semi-final yesterday, was left with only sixth place in a time of 12.77.