Gaines Bursts Back on Scene

After getting the worst end of a collision with a TV camera as she prepared for the final of the 100-meter dash at the 1999 U.S. Indoor championships, Chryste Gaines felt she had become a forgotten woman.

Her injuries, which included a concussion, whiplash and a sprained foot, vanished long before the psychological wounds. That healing process reached completion Friday at Hayward Field when Gaines won the 100 at the U.S. championships in a wind-aided 10.89 seconds, the fastest time in the world this season under any conditions.

For Gaines, who had won Olympic gold and bronze in relays, it was her first U.S. outdoor title. Her joy wasn’t dampened by the absence of Olympic 100-meter gold medalist Marion Jones, who is competing in only the 200 here.

“I just want to prove myself to the world again,” Gaines said. It’s kind of redemption, getting back on the scene. . . . If she runs, that’s fine.”

Kelli White was second in 10.93 seconds, followed by three-time NCAA champion Angela Williams of USC in a personal-best 11.01 seconds. All three qualified for the World Championships in Edmonton, Canada, in August.

“I came here to make the team, and I accomplished my goal,” said Williams, who has never competed at the world meet. “I knew I’d have to get out really well because I know they finish strong. My main focus was to really push the last 60 meters. It was a good plan.”

The decision by men’s 100-meter world-record holder Maurice Greene to withdraw after the first round left the U.S. title for another first-time winner, Tim Montgomery. He won in a wind-aided 9.95 seconds, followed by Bernard Williams in 9.98 seconds, and Curtis Johnson in 10.01 seconds.

“It’s very overwhelming because the U.S. has a history of sprinting,” Montgomery said, “and to come in and win this race is a very big accomplishment. Even though Maurice Greene was not in the race, the way Bernard Williams and Curtis Johnson ran, they kind of put fear in my heart.”

Besides new champions in the men’s and women’s 100, a new old champion prevailed in the decathlon.

Kip Janvrin, who will be 36 in July and has been nationally ranked since 1989, won his first U.S. title and record 33rd decathlon by sprinting past Phil McMullen down the stretch of the 1,500, the final event in the two-day competition. Janvrin amassed 8,241 points to defeat McMullen (8,220) and Bryan Clay of Azusa Pacific (8,169). Tom Pappas, the leader after seven events, withdrew because he is still recovering from shoulder surgery.

The top three qualified for the world championships.

“When you’re sitting out there getting warmed up for the javelin and your back is sore and you’re thinking about running the 1,500 in an hour you think, ‘Is this really worth it?’ ” Janvrin said. “But now, when you’re done, yeah, it’s worth it.”

Clay was hoping merely for one point more than his previous best of 7,980. He eclipsed that on the strength of personal bests in the 100, 400, long jump, discus and 1,500. “God, and my coaches, gave me the strength,” Clay said. “This had nothing to do with me.”

Long jumper Mike Powell, a favorite of the crowd of 6,843, finished fourth in his first major event after a four-year retirement. Powell’s best jump was 26 feet 7 inches, well behind first-time winner Savante Stringfellow’s wind-aided leap of 27-9 1/2. Miguel Pate was second at 27-4 3/4 and Dwight Phillips third at 27 feet. “The guys jumped well. I’m proud of them,” said Powell, whose world record of 29-4 1/2 is nearly 10 years old.

Bob Kennedy, the U.S.-record holder in the 5,000, won his fourth U.S title with a time of 13:28.72 and made his sixth world team. Alan Culpepper, who was third in the 10,000 Thursday, was second in 13:29.66, with Adam Goucher third in 13:32.91. Michigan prep star Dathan Ritzenhein was timed in 13:44.70, 0.7 off the high school record for the event.

“I can’t be mad about it at all,” said Ritzenhein, who was congratulated afterward by fellow prep standout Alan Webb, who will compete in the 1,500 today. “I can’t help but be happy.”

The women’s heptathlon was won for the second consecutive year by DeDee Nathan, with 6,174 points. Nathan, who was ninth at the Sydney Olympics, finished ahead of her Olympic teammate, Sheila Burrell. Gigi Miller was third. . . . Aptly named Nathan Leeper won the men’s high jump, clearing 7 feet 6 1/2 inches and ending Charles Austin’s six-year reign. Austin cleared the same height but Leeper had fewer misses. Henry Patterson was third. . . . Dawn Ellerbe won her third consecutive hammer throw title with a throw of 226 feet 8 inches, a record at the U.S. championships and a record at Hayward Field. . . . John Godina won the shotput with a throw of 70 feet 10 1/2 inches and will go for a double today in the discus. . . . Tyree Washington, who earlier this year ran a world-best 44.28 in the 400, pulled his right hamstring in his semifinal heat and hobbled to the finish in 46.02 seconds. He didn’t qualify for today’s final. The fastest qualifier was Antonio Pettigrew, at 45.28 seconds.