Posted: July 2, 2005

Athletics: USATF News & Notes, Volume 6, Number 50

Hayes, Demus, Carter & Walker win in Paris

Joanna Hayes, Lashinda Demus, James Carter and Brad Walker all won their respective events Friday at the first event of the 2005 IAAF Golden League, the Gaz de France in Paris.

After her runner-up finish last week at the USA Outdoor Championships, 2004 Olympic gold medalist Joanna Hayes bounced back with a win Friday in her second-best time this season of 12.60 seconds. 2004 Gaz de France champion Perdita Felicien of Canada was the runner-up in 12.66 seconds.

2005 USA Outdoor champion Lashinda Demus was victorious in the 400m hurdles, winning the race in 53.85 seconds, equaling her third-fastest time this year. Poland's Anna Jesien was the runner-up in 53.96.

In men's action, two-time Olympic Games fourth-place finisher James Carter won the 400m hurdles in 48.05 seconds, with fellow American Ken Ferguson placing fourth in 48.84. 2005 USA Outdoor pole vault champion Brad Walker continued his winning ways thanks to a clearance of 5.80 meters/19 feet, .25 inch, with 2004 Olympic silver medalist Toby Stevenson finishing third by clearing 5.50m/18-0.50.

Americans posting runner-up finishes Friday in Paris included four-time world outdoor champion Allen Johnson in the 110m hurdles (13.04), 2004 Olympic 400m bronze medalist and 4x400m relay gold medalist Derrick Brew (45.30) and Bernard Lagat in the 1,500 meters (3:30.64).

For more information on the 2005 Gaz de France and the IAAF Golden League, visit IAAF.org.

LeBourne sets world masters record

Anselm LeBourne 46, of Maplewood, N.J., set another pending world masters45-49 age-group record Sunday at the Metropolitan Athletic CongressChampionship, held at the new Icahn Stadium in New York City.

LeBourne ran the 800 meters in 1 minute, 55. 13 seconds to better theprevious world record of 1:56.16 by Ronaldo Mercelina of the Netherlands in1991. LeBourne's performance also breaks the American record of 1:56.27set in May of 1990 by Don Parker, and gave him the overall win in a racethat included 19- and 20-year-olds.

During the indoor season, LeBourne ran the 800 meters in 1 minute, 56.29seconds to better the previous world record of 1:57.32 by Peter Browne ofGreat Britain in 1990. LeBourne's performance also bettered the Americanrecord of 1:57.81 set in March of 1990 by Ken Sparks and also set a 45-49 record.