Posted: May 29, 2006

Athletics: Weather doesn't hinder world leaders at Nike Pre Classic

The rain didn't keep the fans away from the 2006 Nike Prefontaine Classic, they were lining up in droves, waiting to get in to Hayward Field. A crowd of 13,331 provided plenty of electricity, as did world-leading wins.

Gatlin, Men's 100m a crowd favorite

Olympic and World champion and co-world record holder Justin Gatlin dominated the field in section one of the men's 100 meters, winning in 9.88 seconds. His time ties the meet and track record set by Shawn Crawford in 2004. The 2006 World Indoor 60m champion, Leonard Scott took second in 10.16 with Michael Frater of Jamaica third in 10.17.

Section two of the men's 100 meters was won by the other co-world record holder Asafa Powell in 9.93 seconds. The 2004 Olympic 200m gold medalist, Shawn Crawford took second in 10.04 with Jason Smoots in third in 10.05.

World leaders aplenty

2004 World Indoor champion Christian Cantwell won the men's shot put with his world- leading throw of 22.17 meters/72 feet 9 inches. The reigning World champion and two-time Olympic silver medalist, Adam Nelson took second place with his heave of 21.44m/70-4.25. 2006 World Indoor champion Reese Hoffa finished in fourth with his throw of 20.98m/68-10.

The American record holder at 1,500m , Bernard Lagat won the sprint to the finish in the Bowerman mile in a world-leading 3:51.53. Alex Kipchirchir of Kenya, the defending Bowerman mile champion, came in second in 3:51.71. Double World champion Rashid Ramzi was third in 3:52.39. In a field of 13, the top nine finishers all went under four minutes for the mile.

After two false starts in the women's 100 meter hurdles, 2005 World champion Michelle Perry equaled the world leader with her winning time of 12.63 seconds. Hot on her heels was 2005 USA Indoor 60m hurdle runner-up Damu Cherry, who finished second in 12.64 and Brigitte Foster-Hylton of Jamaica in third with 12.74.

After another two false starts in the men's 110 meter hurdles, 2004 Olympic gold medalist Liu Xiang of China won the race in a world-leading 13.21 seconds with 2005 World champion Ladji Doucoure of France second in 13.33. The 1996 Olympic gold medalist and four-time World champion, Allen Johnson finished in third in 13.39.

The top four times in the world were run in the women's 1,500 meters. Ranked #2 in the world by Track and Field News, Tatyana Tomashova of Russia had the winning time in the new world-leading 4:01.81 seconds with #1 ranked Maryman Jamal of Bahrain second in 4:02.55 and #10 ranked Geleta Burka of Ethiopia third in 4:02.68. Finishing in fourth was Australian Sara Jameison in 4:03.13. The 2005 USA champion, Treniere Clement finished in sixth in 4:04.40.

Jackson, Spearmon win again

Reigning World champion Bershawn "Batman" Jackson flew to the finish in winning the men's 400 meter hurdles in a time of 48.22 seconds. 2005 NCAA champion Kerron Clement was second across the line in 49.18, just ahead of third-place finisher 2005 World silver medalist James Carter in 49.31.

Wallace Spearmon, the 2005 World Championships silver medalist, held on to his lead throughout the men's 200 meter to win in 20.27 seconds. Rodney Martin was second in 20.52 with veteran U.S. sprinter Coby Miller third in 20.95.

With a strong surge from behind at the end, 2004 World Junior champion LaShawn Merritt won the men's 400 meters in 44.88 seconds. Gary Kikaya of the Congo was second in 45.03 with Michael Blackwood of Jamaica third in 45.12. Darold Williamson, the 2005 NCAA champion, was sixth in 45.55 and 2003 World silver medalist Tyree Washington was seventh in 45.64.

Mutola, Edwards, Richards win in women's sprints

Crowd favorite Maria Mutola extended her number of consecutive wins to 14 with her win in the women's 800 meters with a time of 1:58.86 seconds. Mutola came from behind to beat Kenia Sinclair of Jamaica, who finished second in 1:59.00 and Hazel Clark who finished in third with a U.S. leading 1:59.10.

Torri Edwards, the 2003 World champion, edged out the competition to win the women's 100 meter dash in 11.08 seconds. Finishing in second was Sherone Simpson of Jamaica in 11.12 with 2005 World 200m silver medalist Rachelle Boone-Smith in third in 11.21.

Sanya Richards went out strong in the women's 400 meters to win in 50.89 seconds. Shericka Williams of Jamaica was second in 51.29 and 2005 World bronze medalist Ana Guevara of Mexico third in 51.62.

Jumpers and throwers take charge

The American record holder in the women's hammer throw, Erin Gilreath set a new Hayward Field record with her winning throw of 69.82 meters/229 feet 1 inch. Croatian record holder Ivana Brkljacic was second with a heave of 69.04m/226-6 and Italian Esther Balassini was third with a throw of 68.20m/223-9.

Reigning World Indoor and Outdoor champion Walter Davis secured his win in the men's triple jump on his final jump with a Pre Classic Record leap of 17.40 meters/57 feet 1 inch. In second place from Great Britain was Nathan Douglas with a leap of 17.26m/56-7.5. Kenta Bell, the 2005 USA Indoor and Outdoor runner-up, took third with his jump of 16.84m/55-3.

Ranked #2 in the world, Miguel Pate won the men's long jump with a leap of 8.27 meters/27 feet 1.75 inches. Defending Olympic and World champion Dwight Phillips leaped his way to second place with his mark of 8.20m/26-11. 2006 USA Indoor champion Brian Johnson was fourth with a leap of 7.89m/25-10.75.

Olympic silver medalist Toby Stevenson took first place in the men's pole vault after a jump-off with 2006 World Indoor champion Brad Walker and 2006 World Indoor silver medalist Alhaji Jeng of Sweden. Walker took second and Jeng third, all with a height of 5.50 meters/18 feet .5 inch. Reigning Olympic gold medalist Tim Mack was fourth with a clearance of 5.40m/17-8.5.

More winners

Tatyana Lebedeva, the jumping phenom from Russia who won Olympic gold in the long jump and is the reigning world triple jump champion, jumped away from the competition with her winning leap of 7.00 meters/22 feet 11.75 inches. Finishing in second place was two-time U.S. champion Grace Upshaw with a leap of 6.49m/21-3.5 with 2005 World champion Tiana Madison in third with her jump of 6.46m/21-2.5.

Discus legend Virgilijus Alekna of Lithunia won the men's discus with his toss of 67.97 meters/223 feet. 2005 USA Outdoors runner-up Jarred Rome placed second with his throw of 65.72m/215-7 and was followed by 2005 USA Outdoor champion Ian Waltz, who took third with his throw of 65.27m/214-2.

The 2005 World champion at 5,000 meters, Ben Limo of Kenya surged ahead of the pack to take the win in 8 minutes 10.59 seconds. Finishing a distant second was Olympic bronze medalist and last year's Prefontaine Classic champion Eliud Kipchoge in 8:12.29. Just behind Kipchoge, in the third fastest time by an American, was the reigning USA 4km cross country champion Adam Goucher in 8:12.73.

2004 Olympic champion Yelena Slesarenko of Russia won the women's high jump with a new meet and track record 1.99 meters/6 feet 6.26 inches. Five-time U.S. champion and three-time Olympian Amy Acuff took second with her leap of 1.96m/6-5. Third place, also at 1.96m/6-5 was Chaunte Howard, the 2005 World silver medalist. Kajsa Bergqvist of Sweden, the 2005 World champion, was fourth with a height of 1.93m/6-4.

Nike Prefontaine Classic Athlete Quotes

Wallace Spearmon, men's 200 meter winner
"It's almost like the elements didn't matter. I felt pretty good on the turn. New York will have to be faster (nest week). My coach told me "don't run anything crazy, just stay healthy, just do what it takes to win" and that's what I did.

Bershawn Jackson, men's 400 meter hurdle winner
"It's all mental. We all have to deal with the weather. Whoever overcomes it is going to win and that's what happened today."

Michelle Perry, women's 100 meter hurdles winner
"I really knew the crowd was going to be a factor. The last time I was here, I was doing the heptathlon. I really took a break today just doing the hurdles, it seemed.
The blocks were a little funny and the false starts were a little distracting, but I knew I had to stay focused and that's what I did."

Torri Edwards, women's 100 meter winner
"It feels really good. I was waiting to get a good win. I wanted to get back to where I was before and I'm close. I've always had a strong start, I've been working on the end of my race. A few more races and I'll get my rhythm back."

Bernard Lagat, men's 1 mile winner
"I was feeling good on the last lap. This year I was feeling confident so I wanted to finish strong. I ran :54 the last lap, that was good.
The field was very strong; there's not been a race like this in the U.S. in a long time. Everybody was in it. Today I wanted to follow, that was my strategy. I was feeling strong."

Toby Stevenson, men's pole vault winner
"The wind played a big part in today. We were all having trouble with it.
There are days when you come to jump really high and days you come to compete. Today was one of the days you just come to compete.
I'm ready to put together some big jumps.
We're all gearing up for nationals, we're all going to be there."

Source: USATF.org.

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