Staff and wire reports

SOPOT, Poland — Tianna Bartoletta was plenty fast in the 60-meter final Sunday at the International Association of Athletic Federations World Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Just not the fastest.

Still, it took the two best times in the world this year to beat her as the Elyria native claimed the bronze medal in a season-best 7.06 seconds.

World and Olympic 100-meter champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica (6.98) and Murielle Ahoure (7.01) of the Ivory Coast took gold and silver.

Gun reaction time played a factor in the final decision. Ahoure led the way with 0.158, followed by Fraser-Pryce (0.159) and Bartoletta (0.165).

The former Tianna Madison, 28, of Tampa, Fla., automatically advanced to the finals after finishing second in the second semifinal in 7.14.

“Part of my problem is that I think too much and I can become stiff,” said Bartoletta, who won nine state track titles for Elyria High. “So I just cleared my mind. My strategy was just to let all of this go. You’re in the final. Just use raw speed and let it carry you through the finish line. It feels like I’m back. It feels so good.”

Bartoletta finished third in the same event at the 2012 indoor worlds in Turkey behind Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell-Brown (7.01) and Ahoure (7.04). Bartoletta clocked 7.09 in Istanbul.

North Ridgeville resident Nate Brannen, 31, representing Canada, finished sixth in his heat of the 1,500 meters Friday in 3:42.51. He was 3.41 seconds out of qualifying (top two) and didn’t advance to Sunday’s final.

Paul Heyse contributed to this story. Contact him at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.