American Anjanette Kirkland stunned hot favourite Gail Devers and a host of other more-fancied athletes to win the world 100m hurdles title.

Kirkland, running in lane one, got the best start in the field but was being caught by Devers before the three-time champion clattered the eighth hurdle which ended her golden chance.

Devers finished 0.13 seconds behind Kirkland who won in 12.41, the fastest time in the world this year.

Olympic champion Olga Shishigina was third in a tight finish that saw Bulgarian Svetlana Dimitrova given fourth in the same time of 12.58, with American youngster Jenny Adams fifth in a personal best of 12.63.

Kirkland thanked God for her victory but could remember little about the race.

“The only thing I remember is reacting to the gun – I don't remember anything about the race.

“I just knew if I reacted to the gun, the race would be mine and I just thank God. It's what he wanted. I knew my time would come and I just had to learn my event and it would come. It's all about being patient.”

Devers said: “I wanted to finish ten hurdles clean. I didn't do that – that was the key. Hitting hurdles in the race is a no-no.

“I'm happy that somebody who beat me was an American. She ran a perfect race. But the silver medal at a championships is still a great thing.”