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Thompson ... "It was a well-executed race for me." THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP)
HURDLERS KEMEL Thompson and Vonette Dixon and quarter-miler Michael McDonald recorded victories for Jamaica at the IAAF Grand Prix II meet yesterday in Thessaloniki, Greece.
In the 400-metre hurdles Thompson led a clean sweep for Jamaica. On his way to victory, He defeated former world and European champion Stephane Diagana of France, who finished fourth.
Thompson clocked 48.50 ahead of fellow Jamaican Danny McFarlane, who finished second with 48.82. Jamaica's Ian Weakley was third with 49.03.
"It was a well-executed race for me," said Thompson. "(Diagana) always pushes me ... He has the European record and you can never go easy when he is behind you."
Diagana was the 1997 world champion and the 2002 European champion.
Dixon won her event in 12.90, the same time as Flora Redoum of Greece who was credited with second. Redoum's countrywoman Christiana Tabaki finished third in 13.06.
McDonald won race one of the men's 400m in 45.98 ahead of the Greek pair of Dimitrios Tsomos and Yeoryios Doupis, while in race two won by the United States' Jerome Young (44.94), national champion Michael Blackwood placed third in 45.21. Bahamian Christopher Brown placed second in 45.16.
At the same meet, there were other top three finishes for a number of other Jamaican athletes. Aleen Bailey and Ronneta Davis claimed second and third in the women's 100 and 400-metre events respectively.
Ukraine's Anzhela Kravchenko took first place 11.31, beating Jamaica's Aleen Bailey and third-place Mercy Nku of Nigeria both timed at 11.32.
American Demetria Washington won the women's 400 metres at 51.46. American Monique Hennagan was second and Ronetta Smith of Jamaica was third in 52.07.
Veteran sprinter Beverly McDonald finished third in the 200 metres in 23.01 behind Mercy Nku of Nigeria (22.83) and Natalya Safronnikova of Belarus (23.00).
Long jumper Elva Goulbourne finished third with a leap of 6.54m behind the Russian pair of Tatyana Kotova (6.68) and Olga Rublyova (6.65).
American Joshua Johnson used a late burst to win the men's 100 metres and clear his way to Paris for the World Championships later this month.
Johnson clocked 10.15 seconds as he struggled to beat Nigerian Uchenna Emedolu, who finished second with 10.17.
"I started slow, but had to pick up my speed at the end," said Johnson.
Kim Collins of St. Kitts and Nevis was third at 10.17.
Johnson also won the 200 metres with 20.21 seconds in an American medals sweep. Ramon Clay was second at 20.48 and Shawn Crawford was third with 20.58.
In race two of the 100 metres Jamaica's Julian Dunkley clocked 10.35 to finish second behind the United States' Brian Lewis who posted 10.24.
