Chris Williams claims 200m crown

Williams

THESSALONIKI, Greece, CANA:

JAMAICAN sprint star Chris Williams claimed the 200 metres crown at the Thessaloniki international Olympic meet yesterday.

Williams, silver medallist at the World Championship, produced a run of 20.18 seconds to easily beat Britain's Marlon Devonish (20.47) after he had done 10.28 for second in the 100 metres, behind Japan's Nobuharus Asahara (10.19).

World champion Avard Moncur and Cydonie Mothersill posted victories as well to complete a strong Caribbean showing at the event.

Bahamian Moncur swept to victory in the 400m in 44.70 seconds and Mothersill of the Cayman Islands, took the women's 200 metres in 22.76 seconds.

Debbie Ferguson of the Bahamas, and Jamaicans Michael McDonald and James Beckford, also made the headlines with top three finishes.

Moncur captured his first global title at the World Championship in Edmonton earlier this month, but was coming off a defeat for his win here.

At the Norwich Union Classic on Sunday, the 400 hurdles specialists Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic and American Angelo Taylor pushed Moncur back into third spot, but the two-time US Collegiate champion for Auburn Univer-sity, rebounded with a good win.

He fought off Jamaica's McDonald (44.90) down the stretch and Canada's Niemi Shane (45.12) to win.

Mothersill, who captured the US Collegiate Indoor title for Clemson University in March, survived a fierce duel with Nigeria's Mercy Nku (22.79) to compete a fine 200 sprint double for the English-speaking Caribbean.

Ferguson (11.33) was beaten by Nku (11.16) in the 100 metres.

And in the men's long jump, Beckford's best effort was measured at 8.03 metres, good enough only for second to Russian Vitaly Shkurlatov (8.05).

Back to Sport