Day six of the 2003 World Athletics Championships saw gold medals handed out in the women's 200-meters, 400-meter hurdles and hammer throw, and the men's pole vault. It was a good night for American women.
Kelli White won her second gold medal of the championships Thursday night, as she added the 200-meter crown to the 100-meter gold she won on Sunday. Despite feeling under the weather (sick), Kelli crossed the finish line in 22.05 seconds. But her illness tempered her excitement.
"I mean that's great. I'm happy. And I'm ready to go to bed. I'm not feeling very good right now, actually," she said. Her fellow American Torri Edwards won the bronze to go with her silver in the 100-meters. Meanwhile, Sandra Glover earned the silver in the women's 400-meter hurdles. Jana Pittman of Australia took the gold in 53.22 seconds.
Yipsi Moreno of Cuba captured the gold medal in the women's hammer throw, with a toss of 73.33 meters, while Italy's Giuseppe Gibilisco won the men's pole vault with a leap of 5.90 meters.
With three days of competition left, the U.S. leads the medals table with 4 gold, 4 silver and two bronze, while Russia has four gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze.
Friday men's sports are in the spotlight as male athletes are featured in four of the days five medal events.
The men will be competing in the long jump, 200-meters and 400-meter hurdles, as well as the 1,500 meter wheelchair event, while the women will start Friday's medal chase with the final of the 800-meter wheelchair.
Dwight Phillips and Walter Davis represent the United States in the men's long jump final. But they will face stiff competition from Yago Lamela of Spain and James Beckford of Jamaica.
Three U.S. sprinters, John Capel, Joshua Johnson and Darvis Patton have advanced to the men's 200-meter finals. Patton broke the tape in a personal best of 20.03 seconds, to have the best time in both qualifying heats.
"I felt good, and I knew after yesterday that a lot of people were going to come with their 'A-game'. So I figured I would bring my 'A-game' too, and just try to get to the finish line first, 1 or 2, and advance to the final," he said.
Joey Woody is the only American in the 400-meter hurdles final, and he'll have a tough road to make it past Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic, who at 47.80 seconds has the season's best time.
