Marion Jones (left) of the U.S. hits the tape as she wins the women's 100m sprint in 11.06 seconds at an athletics grand prix meet in New York on Saturday, ahead of Jamaica's Veronica Campbell (11.11). - REUTERS PHOTOS
NEW YORK (Reuters):
AMERICANS MARION Jones and Justin Gatlin ruled the sprints Saturday with emphatic wins in their respective 100 metre races, and Meseret Defar of Ethiopia capped off New York's rousing grand prix meeting with a world record in the women's 5,000 metres.
At the same meet, Jamaican Danny McFarlane had the fastest time in the 400 hurdles, winning his heat in 49.27.
Former Olympic sprint champion Jones showed she is still a force by beating a world-class field in her third race back after an 11-month absence from competition due to injuries.
After a false start sent the athletes back to the blocks, Jones, 30, who got off to a fast start and was well clear after 60 metres, powered her way to victory in 11.06 seconds ahead of World Championship silver medallist, Veronica Campbell of Jamaica, who clocked 11.11, and 2003 world champion Torri Edwards of the U.S. in 11.23.
World champion Lauryn Williams of the U.S. finished fifth in 11.44.
Gatlin, the Olympic and world champion and co-world record holder, streaked to victory in 9.87 seconds in his first 100m race run in his native New York.
Tyson Gay was a distant second in 10.04 followed by Leonard Scott in the all-American race.
FINISHING TOUCH
Olympic champion Defar put a grand finishing touch on the meeting held on a wet track at Icahn Stadium by winning the 5,000 in 14:24.53 seconds to break the previous record of 14:24.68 set by Elvan Abeylegesse of Turkey in 2004.
Wallace Spearmon (left) of the U.S. celebrates as he wins the men's 200m sprint ahead of Jamaica's Usain Bolt. Spearmon won in 20.09 ahead of Bolt, 20.25. Tyree Washington finished third in 20.32, while Jamaicans Chris Williams (20.47), ended fourth), Omar Brown (20.60) sixth and Marvin Anderson (20.83) seventh. -
REUTERS PHOTOS
Jones, who won three golds at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and five medals in all, has swept all three of her races this year. She won her first race in an altitude-assisted 11.06 seconds in Mexico and triumphed last Sunday in the Netherlands in 11:16.
"I felt pretty strong. I felt powerful," Jones said after the race. "A win is a win. I would have liked it to be faster, but conditions were difficult. Still, it's great to get a win against such a strong field.
"It builds the confidence a little more. It's been a bit low the last two years."
The 24-year-old Gatlin, who last month tied the 100m world record of 9.77 set by Asafa Powell of Jamaica, said he was disappointed in the wet, cool conditions but happy to prevail in front of more than 30 family and friends.
"It turned out to be similar to Prefontaine," Gatlin said about his 9.88 time last week in rainy Oregon. "I felt some pressure before the race to do well in front of my family. I wanted to make sure I got hugs and pats on the back."
Gatlin said he will be taking some time off and had no other meets planned before the U.S. nationals in three weeks' time where he will concentrate on the 100.
In other events, American Wallace Spearmon streaked to victory in the men's 200m, raising his right arm and easing up as he hit the tape in 20:09 seconds, the third-fastest time this year; LaShauntea Moore won the 200 in 22.89; and Khadevis Robinson won the 800 in 1:45.66, the second-fastest time for an American this year.
