Posted: May 8, 2006

Athletics: USATF News and Notes, Volume 30, Number 33

Fast times at Osaka

Olympic and World champion Justin Gatlin made a brilliant start to his individual outdoor season in winning the 100m at the IAAF World Athletics Tour meeting in Osaka on Saturday.

Gatlin completely dominated the men's 100m field. He had a good start and expanded his lead throughout the race, winning in 9.95 seconds. His winning time was 0.19 seconds faster than runner-up Marcus Brunson. Gatlin triumphed for the second straight occasion at the Japanese venue where he will defend his World title next year.

World champion Bershawn Jackson took the lead with 50 meters go to win the men's 400m Hurdles in a world-leading time of 47.60 seconds. 2003 World bronze medalist Periklis Iakovakis of Greece finished second in 47.82 (national record) with Japan's Kenji Narisako third in 47.93. Jackson's time was a meet and Japanese all-comers record.

World 200m champion and Olympic silver medalist Allyson Felix won the women's 100m in a wind-aided 11.11 seconds.

Blazing 400s

World silver medalist Sanya Richards easily won the 400m in 49.89 seconds Saturday at the Jamaica International Invitational Meet. Returning to her roots, Jamaican-born Richards visited her alma mater, Vaz Prep School, to speak with and donate spikes to the track and field team who are preparing for the Prep Schools Championships.

Olympic and World champion Jeremy Wariner dominated the 400m field at the 65th Modesto Relays finishing with a 10 meter lead in 44.84 seconds. Training partner Darrold Williamson followed with a 45.91, as Mitch Potter (46.26) held off Wallace Spearmon (46.33) for third.

Masters World Records reached

Bruce McBarnette, 48, equaled the world record in the high jump for 45-49 year olds at the Southeastern Masters Track and Field Championships at Duke University Saturday with his leap of 2.0 meters/6 feet 6.75 inches. McBarnette, an attorney, has won three world championships for his age group, including the most recent World Masters Athletics Championships Indoor in Linz, Austria last March.

Gary Hunter set a world record in the M50 pole vault soaring over 4.75m/15-7 at the Billy Hayes Invitational in Bloomington, Indiana. Competing against collegians, Hunter finished tied for sixth place. The online results list him clearing 4.85m/15-11, but it has been reported on several sites that his results were mixed-up with those of fellow masters athlete Paul Babits.

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