JAMAICA'S MERLENE Ottey tuned up for this weekend's National Senior and Junior Champships with an easy win over the 100 metres at yesterday's Nuremburg Track Festival.

Ottey who celebrated her 39th birthday last month won in 11.05 seconds ahead of Nigeria's Joan Ekah (11.28) and Canada's Philomena Mensah who clocked 11.38.

Donovan Bailey failed to reach the 100 metres final n his first race since a ruptured Achilles' tendon threatened to end his career.

Bailey, the world recordholder at 9.84 and 1996 Olympic gold medalist, was timed in 10.51 seconds and eliminated in a preliminary heat after finishing third.

"I ran terribly, I know," Bailey said. "I'll need at least four or five races to really get in form."

The Canadian was injured last year as he warmed up for a pickup basketball game with friends in Canada. After the ruptured Achilles' tendon retracted into his calf muscle, he underwent surgery in September.

"I just wanted to finish this race. I just wanted to test myself. I don't have any competition schedule yet."

Fellow Canadian Bruny Surin won the 100 metres final at the $990,000 event, recording the year's fastest time of 9.92 after breaking out of the blocks first and leading the whole way. Britain's Dwayne Chambers was second in 9.99.

"I thought I could run a fast time, but that fast? I'm surprised," said the veteran Surin, 31.

Namibia's Frankie Fredericks ran the previous best this season of 9.94 in a 100 metres in Australia in March.

There were two other year's best recorded at the meet, with Britain's Jonathan Edwards leaping 17.43 metres in the triple jump and Germany's Michael Stolle clearing 5.91 in the pole vault.

Two Germans set junior world records at the event to the delight the 17,000 in attendance.

Yvonne Buschbaum set a new mark in the women's pole vault of 4.35 metres and Bianca Achilles tossed the hammer 66.75 metres.