Kayla Harrison beat Canada’s Amy Cotton to win the 78-kilogram division Saturday at the USA Judo World Cup at Doral Resort and Spa.
Harrison’s victory could push her to No. 1 in the world when the new rankings come out Monday.
The Ohio native, who now lives in Massachusetts, represents the United States’ best hope for a women’s judo gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
“I get my cake and I get to eat it, too,’’ said Harrison, who entered the tournament No. 3 in the world.
The two-day USA Judo World Cup featured more than 700 athletes from 50 nations. Competitors earn points toward qualifying for the 2010 Olympics.
In other women’s finals seven-time World Champion Karina Bryant of Great Britain defeated Brazil’s Maria Suelem Altheman for the gold medal in the heavyweight division, and Colombia’s Yuri Alvear, the 2009 World Champion, defeated Spain’s Maria Bernabeu Avomo to win the gold medal in the 70kg class.
On the men’s side Italy’s Francesco Bruyere used a sumi gaeshi to defeat Brazil’s Nacif Elias, Jr., a two-time World Cup champion, in the 81kg division. Brazil’s Hugo Pessanha, a two-time Pan Am champion, defeated Marcus Nyman for the gold medal in the 90kg division, Lukas Krpalek of the Czech Republic defeated Amel Mekic of Bosnia-Herzegovina in the 100kg class. Russia’s Dmitriy Sterkhov defeated Poland’s Rafael Silva for the gold medal in the 100kg and over division.
Bruyere, the 30-year-old who won the Italian World Cup in December and finished fifth at Rio de Janeiro last month, attributes a medical diagnosis and a new diet for his recent success. Bruyere, who was No. 2 in the world in 2006, started feeling fatigued during training.
“I thought it was because I’m old, I’m tired,’’ he said.
After learning his body can’t ingest gluten, Bruyere has altered his diet and experienced a boost in energy so significant he said he doesn’t get worn out during training.
The United States’ only other medal Saturday aside from Harrison was a bronze by Shintaro Higashi in the men’s 100kg class.
“It feels good, but I can’t be content,’’ said Higashi, who lives in Scarsdale, N.Y. “There are a whole lot more matches and tournaments coming up. I want to take this momentum and power through the next two tours in South America.’’
Harrison, who won the 2009 World Championship, said she felt good early in the match.
“They reminded me I’m world champion and I have to go out there with all the confidence in the world,’’ she said.
Harrison scored early against Cotton on a koshi-garuma, but Cotton scored soon afterward on a counter move. Harrison avoided the three-minute Golden Score (overtime) won when she scored a waza-ari on an osoto-gare with 25 seconds left in the 5-minute match. Cotton stopped competing because she thought they were out of bounds.
“That’s what happens,’’ Cotton said of her mental error.
Jimmy Pedro, the USA Judo National Team head coach, said he feels good about Harrison in London.
“I’m pretty confident she’s going to win an Olympic medal,’’ he said. “I just don’t know what color it’s going to be.’’
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