Mike Rowbottom at the Ergo Arena in Sopot

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce took gold at her World Indoor Athletics Championships debut ©AFP/Getty ImagesMarch 9 - Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce's debut at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Indoor Championships ended in a predictable gold here today as the competition came to a close.

The two-time Olympic 100 metres champion won her first title on the boards with a 60m time of 6.98sec, the best recorded this year.

Her Jamaican teammate Veronica Campbell-Brown, in her first competition since returning from a 10 months' absence following a positive doping test that was eventually overturned, was fifth in 7.13.

The host nation took silver in the men's and women's 800m through Adam Kszczot and Angelika Cichocka respectively, finishing sixth in the medals table following yesterday's gold medal from high jumper Kamila Lićwinko.

But their celebrations were tempered by the disqualification of Marcin Lewandowski, who finished third behind Kszczot, for stepping off the track, a decision which shifted the bronze to Britain's Andrew Osagie in a race won by Ethiopia's prodigiously talented 20-year-old Mohammed Aman.

Celebrations were tempered by the ultimate disqualification of Marcin Lewandowski (left) ©AFP/Getty ImagesCelebrations were tempered by the ultimate disqualification of Marcin Lewandowski (left) ©AFP/Getty Images


"I'm upset with what happened with Marcin," said Kszczot.

"For years we've been writing together the history of Polish track and field and this time part of that euphoria we could have enjoyed has been taken away from us."

Osagie commented: "I think I'm very very lucky to be sitting here.

"It's very very difficult for me, I've been a good friend with Marcin for a long time.

"He lost his medal and as a result I went forward.

"It's bitter sweet for me now.

"I'm not in the happiest of moods to pick up this medal today."

Bernard Lagat's attempt to become the oldest male world indoor champion at the age of 39 fell narrowly short as he had to settle for silver in defence of the men's 3,000m title behind Kenya's Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku, who won in 7min 54.94sec.

Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku claimed the men's 3,000m title in Sopot ©AFP/Getty ImagesCaleb Mwangangi Ndiku claimed the men's 3,000m title in Sopot ©AFP/Getty Images


The naturalised American will have to settle for being the oldest World Indoor Championships male medallist at the age of 39, although he already had that distinction two years ago as he was older than the previous holder of that status, Allen Johnson, the hurdler was 37 and seven days when he took a 60m medal at the 2008 edition.

The World Indoor Championships ended with a world record as the United States men's 4x400m relay team took gold in 3:02.13 ahead of Britain, who clocked 3:03.49, and bronze medallists Jamaica, who ran a national record of 3:03.69.

Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar, the Olympic high jump bronze medallist two years ago, won his first senior global title with an Area record of 2.38 metres, with Russia's Olympic champion Ivan Ukhov clearing the same height to take silver ahead of Ukraine's Andriy Protsenko, who managed a personal best of 2.36m.

The United States finished top of the medals table with eight golds, two silvers and two bronzes.

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