Posted: September 20, 2005

Athletics: USATF News & Notes, Volume 6, Number 74

Gatlin, Felix, Phillips, Jackson & Trotter win in Japan

U.S. stars Justin Gatlin, Allyson Felix, Dwight Phillips and Dee Dee Trotter all won their events Monday at the Super Track & Field Meet in Yokohama, Japan.

Although he didn't meet his pre-race goal of a sub 10-second clocking, 2004 Olympic gold medalist Justin Gatlin won the men's 100 meters in 10.04 seconds after taking the lead half-way into the race. Olusoji Fasuba of Nigeria was the runner-up in 10.13.

"I am really pleased with the season this year," said Gatlin. "I feel I have established better credit to my name and feel I am more consistent. My hamstring was a little bit tight about 20 meters to the finishing line, but it was a good race, I think my performance was good, the competition was great."

In the women's 100 meters, regining U.S. champion Lisa Barber led until the middle of the race before world 200m gold medalist Allyson Felix started to work her way back. Felix nipped Barber at the end to win in a new personal best time of 11.05 seconds, which betters her previous career standard of 11.14 set earlier this year on July 8 in Rome.Barber was the runner-up in 11.08 seconds.

In the men's 400m hurdles, Masahira Yoshikata and World University Games champion Kenji Narisako led at the eighth hurdle, but they were unable to hold off 2005 world champion Bershawn Jackson, who grabbed the lead at the ninth hurdle before winning in 48.24 seconds. Narisako was the runner-up in 48.40.

Although 2004 Olympic gold medalist and reigning world outdoor champion Dwight Phillips was not in peak form in the men's long jump, his best leap of 8.06 meters/26 feet, 5 inches easily won the competition. Japan's Daisuke Arakawa was the distant runner-up with a best of 7.61m/24-11.75.

The fifth-place finisher in the women's 400 meters at the 2005 World Outdoor Championships in Helsinki, Dee Dee Trotter faced a strong challenge, but held on to win the women's 400m at Yokohama. Trotter won the race in 50.03 seconds in holding off runner-up Christine Amertil of the Bahamas, who finished in 50.09.

Americans win in Shanghai

In a meet billed as the strongest collection of international track and field stars ever to compete in the People's Republic of China, Justin Gatlin, Allyson Felix and Dwight Phillips each won their events Saturday at the inaugural Shanghai Golden Grand Prix.

Gatlin looked strong in winning the men's 100 meters in 10.01 seconds. Fellow American Leonard Scott was the runner-up in 10.09, with Portugal's Francis Obikwelu finishing third in10.11.

Allyson Felix continued her undefeated outdoor season with a win in the women's 200 meters in 23.09 seconds. Finishing second was the Bahamas' Christine Amertil in 23.26, with Great Britain's Donna Fraser claiming third in 23.31.

2005 World Outdoor Championships silver medalist Ignisious Gaisah of Ghana owned the first three and a half rounds of the men's long jump before Olympic gold medalist and 2005 World Outdoor champion Dwight Phillips responded with a stadium record leap of 8.39 meters/27 feet, 6.50 inches to win the event. Gaisah finished as the runner-up with a national record best leap of 8.34m/27-4.50, with 2005 world championships competitor Miguel Pate finishing third with a best of 8.05m/26-5.

In the most highly-anticipated event of the day, China's 2004 Olympic 110m hurdles gold medalist Liu Xiang held on to win that event over four-time world outdoor champion and 1996 Olympic gold medalist Allen Johnson. Xiang won the hard fought battle despite hitting the third hurdle and trailing Johnson through the eighth hurdle. Johnson hit the final three hurdles as Xiang powered past him for the win in 13.05 seconds, equaling his best performance of the season. Johnson was the runner-up in 13.20.

Elsewhere on the track, Chandra Sturrup of the Bahamas won the women's 100 meters in 11.02 seconds, with reigning world champion Lauryn Williams the runner-up in 11.05. Lisa Barber placed third in 11.22.

In the women's 400 meters, Olympic champion Tonique Williams-Darling of the Bahamas held on for the win in 50.25 seconds, with Dee Dee Trotter the runner-up in 50.90. Monique Hennagan was third in 50.92, with Moushami Robinson fourth in 51.66.

In field event action, Tora Harris posted his best performance of the outdoor season in the men's high jump when he finished as the runner-up with a clearance of 2.29 meters/7 feet, 6 inches.

Miller places fifth in Talence

2005 USA Outdoor Championships runner-up Virginia "Gi-Gi" Miller posted her second best heptathlon point total of the year over the weekend at the 2005 Decastar IAAF World Combined Events Challenge in Talence, France.

Miller, who placed 16th at the 2005 World Outdoor Championships in Helsinki with 5,911 points, placed fifth with her total of 6,178 points. 2005 World Outdoor Championships silver medalist Eunice Barber of France won the event with 6,675 points.

For more information on the World Combined Events Challenge, including the complete results, visit IAAF.org.

For more information on the events in Yokohama, Shanghai and Talence, including the complete results, visit IAAF.org.