Women poised to strike

Elton Tucker, Assistant Sport Editor
BEIJING:

JAMAICA could complete a sweep of the 100 metres gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics today.

The island's three women easily advanced from yesterday's second round and enter today's semi-finals with the three fastest times.

No Jamaican woman has ever won the 100m final at the Olympics.

Leading the way is national champion Kerron Stewart with a scorching 10.98, the only sub-11 seconds clocking, to win second round heat four.

American Lauryn Williams, the silver medallist from Athens, was second in 11.07 and Belgium's Kim Gevaert third in 11.10.

Shelly-Ann Fraser was equally impressive in winning heat one but crossed the line in 11.06 beating Evgeniya Polyakova of Russia, 11.13, and Jeanette Kwakye of Great Britain, 11.18.

Improved form

Sherone Simpson, who has been displaying improved form since the start of these Games, won heat two in 11.02, beating American Mona Lee (11.08) and Bahamian Chandra Sturrup, 11.16.

Stewart's coach, Henry Rolle, has predicted that she will win gold in a time below her current personal best of 10.80 and she looked in awesome form.

A relaxed Stewart said she was taking it one step at a time and "running her own race" whenever she goes on the track.

Fraser admitted that she was nervous in her heat, but a fast start was what she was looking for.

"The aim was to get in front and relax then take it home," she said.

Fraser who ran 10.85 to place second to Stewart at the National Championships, hinted that she had something in store and could run a fast time in today's semi-finals which will go off two hours and 45 minutes before the final."

American Torri Edwards appears to be the only runner who can deny the Jamaicans.

The world leader at 10.78 won heat five in a fairly slow 11.31.