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Jones Wins 100 in 10.93, Her Fastest in Four Years

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From Times Staff and Wire Reports

Marion Jones is still winning, and she’s getting faster.

Jones ran her fastest time since the summer of 2002, winning the 100 meters in 10.93 seconds Saturday at the Gaz de France meet in Paris.

It was her best performance since giving birth to her son in June 2003.

The 2000 Olympics triple gold medalist ran away from Sherone Simpson and Torri Edwards in the last 30 meters to clock the second-best time of 2006. The only faster time this season is 10.82 by Jamaica’s Simpson.

Jones, who has struggled with injuries and doping accusations in recent years, has a career best of 10.65 in 1998. The 10.93 was her best time since 2002, when she had several races under 10.90 -- including a best of 10.84 at Monaco.

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Jones, who won the U.S. championship last month and now has five victories in seven meets this season, got an enthusiastic reception from the Paris crowd.

“I am very excited to be back and to get a victory,” she said. “I am just so happy with all the fans that supported me, and I hope that I didn’t disappoint anyone.”

World-record holder Asafa Powell won the men’s 100 meters but failed in his attempt to break his world record.

The Jamaican shares the mark with Olympic champion Justin Gatlin and had vowed to improve the 9.77 mark at the Stade de France. He won easily in 9.86.

Olympic silver medalist Terrence Trammell won the 110-meter hurdles in 13.06, the fastest time of 2006. Trammell and fellow American Dominique Arnold (13.08) dominated the race, leaving French favorite and world champion Ladji Doucoure (13.21) behind.

Olympic champion Liu Xiang (13.19) of China couldn’t recover from a poor start and finished fourth, behind Cuba’s Dayron Robles(13.11).

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Jeremy Wariner showed no sign of letting his domination of the 400 meters slip. The crowd roared on France’s Marc Raquil and Leslie Djhone, but the Olympic and world champion had the race virtually won coming off the last bend and improved his own world best this year with a time of 43.91.

“I felt easy, confident smooth,” Wariner said. “I had a great finish, but I didn’t want to give everything because I have another race in Rome next week.”

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BOXING

Spinks Wins IBF Title With Majority Decision

Cory Spinks won the International Boxing Federation junior-middleweight title with a majority decision over Roman Karmazin at St. Louis.

Two judges had Spinks winning, 115-113. The third judge had the bout even, 113-113.

It was the first bout for the 28-year-old Spinks (35-3), the son of Leon Spinks, since Feb. 5, 2005, when he lost his three welterweight title belts to Zab Judah.

The 33-year-old Karmazin, of St. Petersburg, Russia, last fought July 14, 2005, when he won the title with a unanimous decision over Kassim Ouma. He dropped to 34-2-1.

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL

New Mexico State Player Dies in Shooting

New Mexico State linebacker Shana Leaupepe, who was set to be a starter this season, was killed in a drive-by shooting.

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Leaupepe, 21, died Friday in Long Beach, Coach Hal Mumme said Saturday. Leaupepe was visiting family when he was killed.

Leaupepe led West Los Angeles College with 56 tackles in 2004, helping the team to a conference championship. In his two years with the Oilers, he had more than 100 tackles and was an All-Western State Conference selection twice.

He transferred to New Mexico State in 2005 and redshirted that season.

Mumme said Leaupepe will be buried in American Samoa.

Tennessee Tech Coach Mike Hennigan has resigned after 10 years with the Golden Eagles, saying he no longer can deal with the physical demands of the job.

He was 52-57 as head coach.

Hennigan, 54, a Golden Eagles linebacker from 1971-72, became head coach in December 1996 after serving as defensive coordinator for 10 years.

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MISCELLANY

Riptide Loses Lacrosse Match to Denver, 17-7

The L.A. Riptide lost its second consecutive Major League Lacrosse match, 17-7, to the first-place Denver Outlaws (6-2) at the Home Depot Center. Michael Watson scored two goals for the Riptide (2-5).

Argentina defeated Uruguay, 26-0, at Buenos Aires to qualify for the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France.

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Uruguay plays Chile on July 22, with the loser eliminated and the winner advancing to a playoff against Canada or the U.S., which play Wednesday.

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