Jones Feels the Power

It wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t particularly swift. But the joy that illuminated Marion Jones’ face after she won her first world title in the 200 meters said she cared little about flaws in her technique or her non-record time.

She wanted vindication, after having lost her 100-meter championship a few days ago, and she wanted a gold medal at the World Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She got both Friday.

“Prior to the race, I was a bit emotional,” said Jones, who held off Debbie Ferguson of the Bahamas to prevail in 22.39 seconds and win her 27th consecutive 200-meter final. “I really wanted this today.

“I don’t know about doubt, but I definitely had something to prove to myself. It was important for me to come out here and prove I can still get to that finish line first.”

Ferguson, a former NCAA champion at Georgia, was timed in 22.52 seconds, .04 ahead of Kelli White of the U.S. “Mentally I was ready to challenge Marion but my body wouldn’t allow me to,” Ferguson said.

As flashbulbs popped around Commonwealth Stadium and the crowd of 45,085 roared in delight, Ferguson tried to move up on Jones. However, Jones sliced through the curve and churned down the stretch to stay a stride ahead of the gallant Ferguson.

“Zhanna [Pintusevich-Block] winning the 100 definitely put the thought in my mind I could beat her, and that’s the way it’s supposed to be,” Ferguson said. “I think if my body was up to it physically, I could have. But that’s OK. There will be a next time.”

Said Jones: “I felt Debbie approaching a little bit, but I really felt powerful. I felt so powerful on the turn. [Later] I felt myself getting tired. I know what Debbie is capable of.”

It didn’t matter what Ferguson, White or fourth-place finisher LaTasha Jenkins could do--Jones outdid them all. As relief and happiness coursed through her, she took a prolonged victory lap, smiling as she blew kisses to the crowd and posed for pictures with an American flag unfurled behind her. “It wasn’t fast,” she said, “but a gold medal is a gold medal.”

Felix Sanchez knows that feeling after winning the men’s 400-meter hurdles, the first world championship medal won by an athlete from the Dominican Republic.

Sanchez, the NCAA 400-meter hurdles champion for USC in 2000, was born in New York and raised in San Diego. He chose to compete for his parents’ homeland because he judged the U.S. too deep in the hurdles. But no U.S. hurdler made it to the finals.

“It was our first gold, and now they’ll expect the same thing all the time,” said Sanchez, whose time of 47.49 seconds was the world’s best this year and the 10th best in history.

“It feels great to win. I can’t believe I won. To be No. 1 and having a personal record, it’s a great moment. They don’t hand out medals just for showing up.”

Gail Devers of the U.S., trying for her fourth world title in the 100-meter hurdles, won her semifinal heat in 12.56 seconds, the world’s fastest time this year. Jenny Adams and Anjanette Kirkland also advanced to today’s final, but Donica Merriman failed to advance after she got tangled in the fourth hurdle.

“Everybody has been running well. Nobody’s blazing,” Devers said. “That’s going to make for a great final.”

Adams was clocked in a personal-best 12.67 seconds and finished second to Bulgaria’s Svetla Dimitrova in their heat. Getting to the final is sweet consolation for her after she fouled out of the long jump.

“I’m using it to give me energy,” she said. “I’m mad about it and it makes me want to get even in the hurdles.”

Kirkland complained of being bumped by another hurdler but was third in her heat. “I’ve just got to stay away from everybody,” she said.

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Two-time defending 5,000-meter champion Gabriela Szabo, who backed off her threat to boycott the 5,000 if Russia’s Olga Yegorova was allowed to run, was happy to see an anti-drug sign in the stands by British runner Paula Radcliffe during Thursday’s 5,000 heats.

The placard read, “EPO Cheats Out,” referring to Yegorova having tested positive for the banned hormone EPO last month in Paris. Yegorova was suspended briefly but was permitted to compete because the laboratory that handled the test didn’t follow International Olympic Committee protocol.

Radcliffe, a 10,000-meter runner, held up the hand-lettered sign until security guards confiscated it.

“It’s good,” said Szabo, whose fourth-place finish in the heat was two spots behind Yegorova. “Thank you, Paula.”

There will be no U.S. runners in the women’s 5,000 final today. U.S. champion Marla Runyan was eliminated after being timed in 15 minutes 24.30 seconds in her heat, more than 16 seconds slower than her time at the U.S. meet. Elva Dryer (15:26.04) and Amy Rudolph (15:46.77) also failed to qualify.

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The U.S. lineup for the first round of the women’s 400-meter relay today will be Angela Williams, Chryste Gaines, Inger Miller and Torri Edwards. The first round of the 1,600-meter relay, also today, will be run by Michelle Collins, Demetria Washington, Miki Barber and Suziann Reid. Jerome Young, Andrew Pierce, Leonard Byrd and Derrick Brew will run the first round of the men’s 1,600-meter relay.

Bridgette Foster of Jamaica suffered a mild seizure and collapsed in the interview area after competing in the second semifinal of the 100-meter hurdles. She was in stable condition at a local hospital. . . . Breaux Greer of the U.S. advanced to Sunday’s javelin final. . . . U.S. high jump champion Amy Acuff advanced to Sunday’s final, but teammate Erin Aldrich no-heighted. . . . Paul McMullen of the U.S. qualified for Sunday’s 1,500 final with a semifinal time of 3 minutes 40.57 seconds

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Today’s Events

Finals

* Men’s 50-kilometer walk, 10:40 a.m.

* Women’s discus, 1:30 p.m.

* Women’s 100-meter hurdles, 3 p.m.

* Men’s long jump, 3:05 p.m.

* Women’s 5,000, 4:15 p.m.

* Women’s 400 meter relay, 4:40 p.m.

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Other selected events:

* First round of women’s 400-meter relay, 1:35 p.m.

* First round of men’s 400-meter relay, 2:10 p.m.

* First round of women’s 1600-meter relay, 3:15 p.m.

* First round of men’s 1600-meter relay 4:40 p.m.