DANIELLE Williams struck gold for Jamaica in the women’s 100m hurdles in a remarkable display yesterday at World Championships at the Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing.

It was a day which will live long in the country’s sporting history as apart from Williams’ wonderful achievement, Jamaica reaped a bumper harvest of four medals, one gold, two silver and one bronze in its most productive day at this year’s World Championships.

Hansle Parchment and Elaine Thompson won silver medals in the 110m hurdles and the 200m, while veteran Veronica Campbell-Brown turned back the clock and snatched bronze in the 200m.

The four medals collected pushed Jamaica’s medal tally to nine, inclusive of four gold, two silver and three bronze to be third behind Kenya and the United States of America (USA).

Williams, 22, the Jamaican champion, gave a virtuoso performance to stun the world and announced herself in no uncertain manner as world champion with a personal best of 12.57 seconds.

Although it may seem to be a massive upset, the writing was on the wall from the semi-finals when the Americans began to crumble. Dawn Harper-Nelson fell and Williams turned back Sharika Nelvis fairly comfortably in 12.58 seconds.

While Harper-Nelson was inconsolable in the mixed zone, her countrywoman Kendra Harrison was disqualified in the following semi-final. Defending champion Brianna Rollins won semi-final three in 12.71 seconds and things began to look rosy for Williams.

The Americans were expected to sweep the medals in the race but instead they failed to get on the podium, with Rollins finishing fifth in 12.67 seconds. In second place was Germany’s Cindy Roleder with 12.59 seconds while Alina Talay of Belarus was third in 12.66 seconds.

Danielle, whose sister Shermaine Williams finished seventh in a time of 12.95 seconds, said she experienced a feeling of surprise and joy.

“I came into this championship expecting to run my personal best and I did that in the semi-finals. After that I was hoping that I would have the legs to come back in the final, as the semis and the final were so close,” said Williams.

Despite not striking gold, Jamaica picked up two medals in the women’s 200m courtesy of Elaine Thompson and Veronica Campbell-Brown who finished second and third respectively behind Dutchwoman Dafne Schippers.

Thompson, Jamaica’s emerging star, started the race as the slight favourite but despite almost running a national record with a magnificent 21.66 seconds, she had to settle for silver behind Schippers who established a championship record of 21.63 seconds.

Thompson was just two hundredth of a second outside the legendary Merlene Ottey’s record of 21.64 seconds set in 1991, a year before Thompson was born.

“I have to give God thanks, it’s the final and I came out second with a big personal best so I can’t complain. I was just fighting and I just wanted to pull through but I came out second,” said Thompson.

Campbell-Brown ran arguably the best curve in her illustrious career from lane two to snatch bronze in 21.97 seconds.

“It’s a blessing, it was a very fast race, a very tough race for me especially being in lane two, but I knew I had to go and give it everything I had and I am glad it was good enough for a medal,” said Campbell-Brown. Jamaica’s third finalist, Sherone Simpson, was eighth in a seasonal best of 22.50 seconds.

In the men’s 110 hurdles final, Hansle Parchment proved once again that he is a big occasion performer, earning silver in a season’s best of 13.03 seconds. The race was won by Russia’s Sergey Shubenkov with a national record of 12.98 seconds. Aries Merritt of the USA was third in 13.04 seconds.

Jamaican champion Omar McLeod was sixth in 13.18 seconds. McLeod said he has learnt a lot and is motivated for next year’s Olympic Games.

“Coming here making the final is a tremendous blessing. But I never usually hit hurdles like this and in my opinion it’s just fatigue setting in my legs,” McLeod explained.

He continued: “I have had a tremendous season running competitively from January…peaked twice and now coming to peak again while these guys are just coming into their peak.

“I am definitely blessed to come here and make the final,” the NCAA outdoor champion said.