It is Fraser all the way

AP

It was the first time in the Olympics that one country had swept the women’s 100m and the first time over the distance since the US men in Stockholm in 1912, writes Michael Phillips.

Jamaica might be mad about the boy, but on August 17 they were pretty ecstatic about their women sprinters, too. Five minutes short of 24 hours after the brilliance of Usain Bolt, his team-mate Shelly-Ann Fraser led home a clean sweep for the country to make Olympic 100m history. Her triumph in 10.78sec came ahead of Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart, who could not be separated in 10.98. They will both receive silver medals.

It was the first time in the Olympics that one country had swept the women’s 100m and the first time over the distance since the US men in Stockholm in 1912. “We made history,” said Simpson. “We are all great athletes and I am very excited about the tremendous achievement we have made for our country.”

No Jamaican woman had won the Olympic 100m title before, with Juliet Cuthbert in 1992, and Merlene Ottey in 1996, being the closest with silvers. Stewart said: “Coming into the Olympics people thought we were not experienced enough, but give us a chance to do something and we make the most of it.” The US appealed against the result, insisting that one of their own athletes should have been punished for a false start. Their complaint was thrown out, however. The race was another great spectacle, with Fraser leading all the way, but it was a night of triumph for the east Londoner Jeanette Kwakye. She was sixth in a personal best of 11.14 after becoming the first British woman to reach the Olympic 100m final since Heather Oakes in 1984.

“That was just amazing,” said Kwakye, 25, who lives in Chingford. “It goes to show when it matters I can really do it and to be part of a race that included an unprecedented 1-2-3 for Jamaica was fantastic.

“The London Olympics are just on my doorstep, I drive past the Olympic sites every day on my way to training and to do well there is something I just can’t comprehend.”

© Guardian Newspapers Limited 2008