Fastest women in Eugene

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EUGENE, Ore. -- Marshevet Hooker ran the fastest qualifying time in the women’s 100-meter dash, 10.94 seconds, to lead 24 women into the second round. That was to be contested later Friday.

Hooker, Muna Lee (11.00), Allyson Felix of Los Angeles, (11.01), Carmelita Jeter of Gardena and Torri Edwards (11.16) of Los Angeles were the heat winners. Lauryn Williams (11.03) also advanced easily, as did Angela Williams, the world indoor 60-meter champion and a USC alumna.

Lauryn Williams, the Athens 100-meter silver medalist and 2005 world outdoor champion, said she was comfortable with her performance -- and happy for fellow competitor Muna Lee. ‘I’ve never counted her out,’ Williams said. ‘She’s one of my favorite competitors. It’s not one of those moody rivalries. We can chit-chat afterward.’

Edwards, 31, missed the Athens Games while serving a doping ban. The drug she said she inadvertently ingested in a cold remedy, nikethamide, was downgraded by international anti-doping officals and her penalty cut from two years to 15 months. She was the 2003 world champion and might have won a medal, but she’s not thinking about that now.

‘I’m treating this like every other national championship,’ she said. ‘I’m going out to win like I did last year.’

-- Helene Elliott