Proctor wins silver in long jump after Bartoletta takes gold with final leap

Updated 28/08/2015 at 18:04 GMT

Shara Proctor won a silver medal in the long jump after Tianna Bartoletta snatched gold with her final leap.

Shara Proctor of Britain reacts as she competes in the women's long jump final during the 15th IAAF World Championships at the National Stadium in Beijing, China,

Image credit: Eurosport

The Briton was leading after she broke the British record with a jump of 7.07 metres, but the American hit back in the final round to take the title.

"I don't know what to feel, I'm speechless but I'm happy most of all," said Proctor.

"It's my fifth champs, I finally got on the podium. It's a silver medal but I still feel like a winner.

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"It's been a long ride. I was on crutches last year at this time (for four weeks after a quadricep injury at the Commonwealth Games).

"I had to learn to walk, I had to learn to run and today I just threw it all together and finally executed."

Dina Asher-Smith of Britain reacts after competing in the women's 200 metres final during the 15th IAAF World Championships at the National Stadium in Beijing, China August 28, 2015

Image credit: Reuters

Bartoletta leapt 7.14 metres while Ivana Spanovic was the only other athlete to break 7 metres with 7.01 to take bronze.

Bartoletta, 29, last won the world title 10 years ago in Helsinki, competing under her maiden name of Madison.

She has spent much of the past decade concentrating on her sprinting, finishing fourth in the 100m final at the 2012 London Olympics.

"This was a totally different experience from 2005," Bartoletta, who celebrates her 30th birthday on Sunday, told reporters. "I'm just really pleased I was able to execute in the same way and come out with the win."

Proctor did not seem too disappointed at having had the gold medal snatched from her grasp. "I'm so happy. It finally came together -- two jumps over seven metres. I'm still in awe. I'm just happy right now.

Tianna Bartoletta of the U.S. competes in the women's long jump final during the 15th IAAF World Championships at the National Stadium in Beijing, China August 28, 2015. REUTERS/Phil Noble

Image credit: Reuters

"There's more to come, for sure."

That was not the case with Spanovic, who produced a very consistent series, jumping 6.98 in the penultimate round before clearing 7.01 with her final jump. "Sincerely, I am upset because of the bronze medal. With my coach, we were training for a jump on the level of 7.10. We focused on Beijing and tried to give it everything.

"To jump 7.01 twice in the competition, that is a very positive factor for my career. I just expected more."

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