TRACK AND FIELD : Powell (28-5) Makes Jump Toward the Top

Mike Powell soared 28 feet 5 inches to become the fifth-best long-jump performer of all time, and Leroy Burrell ran to a 1990 world best of 9.96 seconds in the 100-meter dash Friday night, highlighting the BNP Grand Prix track meet.

Two-time Olympic champion Roger Kingdom was beaten by Tony Dees in the 110-meter high hurdles. Dees clocked 13.24, Kingdom 13.29.

Greg Foster, coming off a three-month drug suspension, was third in 13.36.

In the long jump, Powell trails Bob Beamon, the world record-holder at 29-2 1/2, Soviet Robert Emmian (29-1), Carl Lewis (28-10 1/4), and Larry Myricks (28-8 1/4), although Lewis and Myricks both have several marks better than Powell’s.

Powell, who had a previous best of 27-10 1/4, jumped 27-4 3/4 and 27-6 on his two earlier attempts.

Emmian was second Friday at 26-11 3/4.

Burrell overcame France’s Daniel Sangouma midway through the race and raised his hand in victory over the final five meters. Still, Burrell’s time was only .04 of a second off the world record of 9.92 held by Lewis.

Burrell had the previous 1990 best of 10.01. He ran 9.94 last year and a wind-aided 9.94 this year.

Sangouma, whose start was suspect when he jumped ahead of Burrell so quickly, was timed in 10.02, a French record.

“Sangouma was well ahead of me (at the start),” Burrell said. “But rather than worry about that, I said I’m going to catch him. That’s exactly what happened. And I was so happy, I put my hand up.”

France’s Monique Ewanje-Epee won the women’s 100-meter high hurdles in 12.56 for a 1990 world best and a French record.

Romanian Dointe Melinte won the women’s 1,500 meters in 3:58.69, another season’s best.

Another women’s 1990 best was bettered when Merlene Ottey of Jamaica won the 200 in 21.97. She had run 22.12 earlier this season.

In the men’s 200, Michael Johnson of the United States, making his European debut, won in 20.01. Johnson ran a season’s best of 19.90 at the U.S. championships this month.

In other events, Americans won the men’s 1,500 meters and women’s 3,000.

Joe Falcon rallied in the stretch to take the 1,500 in 3:36.60, and PattiSue Plummer outdueled women’s world cross-country champion Lynn Jennings in the 3,000, 8:44.00 to 8:46.08.

Of his hurdles victory, Dees said he can run faster. “I was pressing at the end,” he said. “I should have never let Roger get that close.”

Kingdom arrived late after competing Thursday night at Verona, Italy.

“The meet didn’t end until midnight and we didn’t get here until 5:30 in the morning,” Kingdom said.

Dees started the year with a personal best of 13.54, and has improved to sixth-best American.