BERLIN (AP):

Kerron Clement of the United States successfully defended his men's 400-metre hurdles world title yesterday, and Javier Culson won Puerto Rico's first-ever medal at the World Championships.

Running in Lane 3, Clement exploded over the first 200 metres - even avoiding a crash by Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic in a neighbouring lane - and managed to hold off a late challenge from Culson with a burst in the last 50 metres to cross the line in 47.91 seconds.

"After the final hurdle I knew that the gold medal was mine," Clement said. "I saw it and I had it."

Hamstring injury

Culson finished in 48.09 to take the silver and Bershawn Jackson of the United States fought off a nagging hamstring injury to pick up the bronze in 48.23.

Clement takes home a second world title with the win and said his runner-up finish at last year's Beijing Olympics pushed him to his win in Berlin.

"Getting the silver in the Olympics was motivation for me to come out this year and to get that gold medal, because yeah, I fell short in Beijing," Clement said.

But he didn't get a chance yesterday to race the man who beat him to the gold in China - American teammate Angelo Taylor. The Olympic champion finished fourth in his heat on Saturday and was knocked out of the competition.

The 25-year-old Culson, meanwhile, set a national record to bring home Puerto Rico's first-ever medal from a track world championships.

"I made history today - first big medal for my country and the national record," Culson said. "It gives me so many things to think about. I gave it all in the last 100 metres. I also had the feeling I could have won the race."

"I am going to be a hero at home."