Beijing: Shelly-Ann Fraser led a historic Jamaican sweep of the Olympic women's 100m here on Sunday, finishing ahead of compatriots Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart, who dead-heated for silver.
Fraser, 21, burst out of the blocks and led from the start, opening up after 40 metres to consolidate her lead and finish in 10.78sec.
Simpson and Stewart could not be separated in a photo-finish at 10.98sec for a first-ever Olympic podium sweep of the women's 100m.
Fraser handed Jamaica its first ever gold over the blue-riband event, coming just a day after Usain Bolt shattered the world record to win the men's 100m, another ground breaker for the Caribbean island.
Reigning world silver medallist Lauryn Williams, who also won silver in the Athens Games in 2004, finished fourth in 11.03sec, the best of the much-vaunted American trio.
"It was incredibly close," said Williams. "I tried my best, gave my all and am not frustrated at all.
"To clock 10.78sec into a pretty strong headwind is pretty impressive," she said, adding: "I wasn't thinking about Jamaican speed - I've seem them all year long and they're very consistent."
Her teammate Muna Lee rebounded from a terrible start to claim fifth in 11.07sec while Torri Edwards, who came into the race as the season's fastest woman, finished last in 11.20sec.
"I thought I'd moved before the gun," admitted Edwards. "I had to go but I was off step, so that threw me off a lot.
"I'm pretty sure it was a false start. I expected to be called back."
Lee agreed with her teammate: "It felt like someone false started." ####
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