Omar McLeod puts Jamaica back on top

Omar McLeod has claimed a dominant victory in the 110m hurdles at the world athletics championships.

Omar McLeod

Olympic champion Omar McLeod has won the 110m hurdles at the world athletics championships. (AAP)

Jamaican Omar McLeod has put the Caribbean sprint powerhouse back on track at the world athletics championships with a dominant win in the 110m hurdles.

With Usain Bolt and Elaine Thompson suffering shock losses in their respective 100m finals, the spotlight was burning brighter than ever before on Rio Olympic champ McLeod in London on Monday night.

Rather than wilting, he lifted to the occasion, taking control of the race early and never letting up.

"This one is special, honestly," said the 23-year-old McLeod, who clocked a winning time of 13.04 seconds.

"There was a lot of pressure coming in but I channelled it positively.

"It's totally different to last year where we had Usain and Elaine winning, which I used to propel me.

"I didn't have that this time so I really wanted to come out and shine my own light."

Russian Sergey Shubenkov, competing as an unaffiliated athlete in London due to the ongoing ban imposed on his national federation for systemic doping abuses, pocketed silver.

American world record holder Aries Merritt, competing at a global championships for the first time since receiving a kidney transplant from his sister in 2015, was fifth.

"I am not even meant to be running, so I'm more happy to be here than not be here," said Merritt.

"I am back on the world stage and that's the main thing."

Kenyan Faith Kipyegon claimed a dramatic victory in the women's 1500m, adding the world title to her Olympic and Commonwealth crowns by hanging tough in the final straight when the challenges were coming from everywhere.

Kipyegon clocked a winning time of 4:02.59 with American Jenny Simpson claiming the silver.

South African Caster Semenya stormed home for third, although she will be a short-priced favourite at her preferred distance of 800m later in the championships.

The hard luck story belonged to Britain's Laura Muir, who made the early running before finishing fourth.

The big shock was defending world champion Genzebe Dibaba from Ethiopia, who trailed home in last place.

"I knew it would be fast, it is such a quality field," said Kipyegon.

"The best was going to win here.

"It was always going to be quick and competitive."

Venezuela's Yulimar Rojas won a thrilling South American showdown against Colombian Caterine Ibarguen in the women's triple jump.

Rojas won with a best jump of 14.91m, two centimetres better than Ibarguen's best effort.

The reigning Olympic champ had one final shot at snatching the gold from Rojas with the concluding jump of the competition, but came up agonisingly short with 14.88m.

Poland's Anita Wlodarczyk (77.90m) claimed a third women's hammer throw world title to go with her two Olympic crowns.


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Source: AAP



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