England scoops silver

Former steeplechaser Jenny Simpson summoned a sensational sprint finish of her own to win a surprise gold, taking the title back to the United States for the first time in 28 years.

The 25-year-old bided her time in what developed into a physical race and kicked off the final bend to overhaul Spain's Natalia Rodriguez and take victory in four minutes 05.40 seconds, the slowest winning time in the event at a world championships.

"I am supposed to say that I am not surprised -- all I can say is that a dream has come true," Simpson, who used to run under her maiden name Barringer, said. "Coming off the final bend, I thought I would be difficult to beat."

England followed her home in 4.06.68 to win silver for Britain, while Rodriguez, who finished first at the last world championships in Berlin but was disqualified for tripping a rival, claimed bronze in 4.05.87.

"I am so excited about this. I didn’t get nervous at all, I was just excited, I knew there was nothing to lose," said England, who has long been mentored by double Olympic champion Kelly Holmes.

"I was so calm in the last 200m, I knew I was in a good position. The others were tying up. I felt strong and I knew I had a strong last 100m. I ended up having to go really wide but Jenny did as well so I can’t use that as an excuse. She had an amazing finish.

"I knew I was capable of that. I’ve been hearing from Kelly and she’s been sending me texts the whole way through.

"It’s great for girls my age to show we can do it really well."

Simpson said her experience in running the steeplechase, where she still holds the US record, had helped in a tactical race that was run at a slow pace until the last half lap.

"Standing on starting line, I was thinking about what this would mean for my life and my family," Simpson recalled.

"My little sister is serving in the army and I knew if I won they would play the national anthem.

"Coming down the last 100 metres, I was thinking of my little sister and thinking 'let's get that song played'."

Her triumph means the middle distance title is back in US hands for the first time since Mary Decker Slaney won gold at the first world championships in 1983.

"It's great to bring the gold medal home to the US," said Simpson. "The US is becoming incredibly competitive in the 1,500. Making the team was very hard. There will be a big celebration tonight. I guess I will not sleep for the next few nights."

Double defending champion Maryam Jamal of Bahrain, who had set the pace early in the race, finished last after being boxed in and then tripped.

American Lashinda Demus ran the third-fastest women's 400 metres hurdles of all time to win gold in a time of 52.47 seconds.

Defending champion Melaine Walker of Jamaica took the silver and Russian Natalya Antyukh the bronze.

Walker burst out of the blocks and built up a good early lead but Demus bided her time and reeled the Jamaican in around the final bend.

The pair powered down the home straight stride for stride before Demus used the momentum from a cleaner jump over the final hurdle to edge in front and take gold.

Kaliese Spencer, the pre-race favourite and fastest in the world this year, was a disappointing fourth.

Ukrainian Olha Saladuha claimed triple jump gold after defending champion Yargeris Savigne was forced to pull out of the final through injury.

The Cuban managed three attempts, just one of them valid, before, clutching her right thigh, she called an end to her title defence and left the way clear for European champion Saladuha to win her first world title.

The 28-year-old leaped 14.94 metres on the first of her jumps in windy conditions which proved good enough for the gold ahead of Kazakhstan's Olga Rypakova (14.89) and Colombian Caterine Ibarguen (14.84), who took silver and bronze respectively.

Savigne appeared on the front of the programme for the sixth day of the Daegu championships and, like the cover stars on four of the previous five days, made an ignominious exit.

Yamile Aldama began strongly setting a season’s best of 14.50m in her opening round, a mark that saw her safely ensconced in the upper echelons of the leader board for the competition and easily making the cut for the final three jumps.

But frustratingly for the 39-year-old, she could not control her run up over the next four attempts to improve on that mark and her 14.33m final round effort did not improve her position. Still, finishing her debut competition for Britain in fifth place ensured Aldama had a memorable experience in Daegu, and she spoke positively after her competition:

“I tried my best and after the first round I thought I could get a medal but it was not to be,” she conceded

 “I have been out of shape for two or three years and maybe it caught up with me. I am not 100% satisfied, but happy and it was amazing to compete in a British vest!”

Elsewhere, Britain's Anyika Onuora finished seventh in her 200m semi-final after clocking an impressive personal best in the heats.

However, she had no complaints with her performance, with American Shalonda Solomon quickest into the final, ahead of defending champion Allyson Felix.