Jana Pittman just two good

Jamaica’s Melanie Walker took the bronze in 56.96.

Pittman said that she was inspired by taking part at the Sydney games and that she now wants to emulate Cathy Freeman’s achievement.

It was a day for doubles, as Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell, at 19 already an Olympic relay silver medallist from Sydney, completed the 100-200 sprint double.

She did so in record time, matching her championship best from Tuesday’s 100 final with 22.87 seconds in Saturday’s 200, where she was pressed all the way by Germany’s European junior champion Sina Schielke (23.20).

Other doubles did not quite materialise.

Dutch thrower Rutger Smith, winner of the shot title earlier in the week, led the discus into the fifth round, but had to settle for bronze.

His best effort of 58.70 metres was overtaken by first Niklas Arrhenius, from Sweden, with 59.19, and then the gold-winning effort of South Africa’s Hannes Hopley, with 59.51.

It was the second gold medal within a minute for South Africa, as Hopley’s team mate, Paul Gorries, charged away from his seven rivals in the 200 final, clocking 20.64.

Marcin Jedrusinski, from Poland, won the silver in 20.87, with Britain’s Tim Benjamin third in 20.94.