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| Sunday, 25 August 2002 |
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Queen Marion reigns at the Palace LONDON, Aug 24 (AFP) - Olympic 100 metres champion Marion Jones easily won her long-awaited showdown with world champion Zhanna Pintusevich-Block here at Crystal Palace in the Grand Prix meeting on Friday. Pintusevich-Block, who beat Jones in the shock of last year's world championships in Edmonton, made a terrible start and could never catch the 26-year-old American who crossed the line in 10.97sec. The US-based Ukrainian was second in 11.11sec. It was the first time the two had met this year. Jones said: "For me it was the continuation of a very successful season. "I haven't seen a race with this much talent for a long time and adding Zhanna into it made it even better." The men's 100m saw European champion Dwain Chambers decisively beat world and Olympic champion Maurice Greene for the fourth time this season, the Briton staking his claim to be top-ranked in the world this year. Greene stumbled out of his starting blocks as Chambers accelerated smoothly into the lead before joyously turning to the crowd as he crossed the line. Chambers clocked 9.98sec, with a following wind of 0.5 metres per second, world championships silver medallist Tim Montgomery took second place in 10.05sec with Greene third in 10.06sec. The Briton has beaten Greene in Oslo, Sheffield and Zurich this year although the American has made no secret of the fact that he considers this an unimportant season and has vowed he will return to his best for next year's world championships in Paris. Chambers meanwhile has made a stunning comeback after pulling up with cramp in the Commonwealth Games final. "To win on home turf is a great confidence boost for me," he said. "I guess I've proved my worth now. "Since building myself up from the Commonwealths, I felt the pressure was off after my win in the Europeans and I've just enjoyed the rest of my season." World 400m hurdles champion Felix Sanchez completed a rare double by winning his speciality event and then coming out two hours later to also triumph in the flat 400m. Sanchez, from the Dominican Republic, was given a fright in the hurdles when American James Carter only lost to him in a dip finish on the line, Sanchez clocking 48.08 to Carter's 48.09. Sanchez said: "It was the closest race I've had all year. "I give the field credit. Every time I come out they run and gun and try to take me out and take my title." In the 400m, he eased ahead of American Alvin Harrison and Germany's European champion Ingo Schultz in a modest time of 45.14sec. Veteran British hurdler Colin Jackson was foiled as he made his last outdoor appearance in Britain, finishing third in the 110m hurdles won by world champion Allen Johnson. But 35-year-old Jackson, still the world record holder, said it had been an unforgettable night: "There was so many Welsh flags and British flags in the crowd, it was quite emotional. "I've enjoyed every minute of my career. Athletics has given Colin Jackson a voice and I'm grateful for that." In the 800m, Russia's Yuriy Borzakovsky underlined the folly of running the 400m at the European Championships when he beat a high-class field including world champion Andre Bucher in the two-lap race. Borzakovskiy abandoned his normal tactics and led through 400m in a blistering 50.8sec before holding on from David Krummenacker of the United States in 1min 44.78sec. Russian pole vaulter Svetlana Feofanova proved again she has the measure of world and Olympic champion Stacy Dragila this season by beating the American with an effort of 4.62 metres, Dragila only managing fourth with 4.52m. Hicham El Guerrouj was imperious in the mile, but his modest time of 3:50.86 reflected the tiredness of many of the athletes. European champion Steve Backley slumped to sixth in the javelin in a competition won by Sergey Makarov of Russia with a throw of 86.70m. |
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