Greene And Jones Win Gold

Maurice Greene ran the second-fastest 100 meters in history Sunday to win the gold medal at the world track and field championships in 9.80 seconds, just 0.01 off his world record.

Marion Jones won the women's 100 in 10.70 seconds, a championship record and fastest time of the year, to successfully open her bid for a record four gold medals.

Both Greene and Jones, the world's fastest man and woman, won the world titles for a second consecutive time.

Greene, running in lane five, was slow out of the blocks and trailed Canada's Bruny Surin for the first half of the race. But he moved into another gear in the final 50 meters and stormed past Surin.

Surin took the silver in a personal-best 9.84, and Britain's Dwain Chambers was third in a career-best 9.97.

As soon as he crossed the line, Greene twirled his hand in celebration to the crowd. After seeing his time on the board, he shook his head, realizing how close he had come to matching the world record of 9.79 he set in Athens on June 16.

Greene kneeled on the track, holding his head in his hands for several seconds. Then he looked up at training partner Ato Boldon in the stands and shouted, "That's for you, Ato," before setting out on a victory lap with the American flag.

Boldon, who pulled out of the championships with an injury, and hurdler Larry Wade ran down onto the track to embrace Greene.

It was the ninth time Greene has run under 10 seconds this year, and the 24th time in his career.

Greene is also seeking gold in the 200 and the 400 relay.

The 25-year-old American is bidding to become the first man to complete a 100-200 double at the championships.

In the women's 100, Jones shot out of the blocks and pulled away from the field. Fellow American Inger Miller took the silver in a personal best 10.79, and Greece's Ekaterini Thanou got the bronze in 10.84.

In one of the fastest women's dashes ever, six women ran under 11 seconds.

Jones' husband, C.J. Hunter, let out a huge roar from the stands after she crossed the finish line. Hunter won the men's shot put title Saturday.

Jones, unbeaten in sprint races in the past two years, is also chasing gold medals in the 200, long jump and one of the relays.

In other events, France's Eunice Barber produced three personal bests to take the world women's heptathlon title ahead of Briton Denise Lewis.

Barber, who began the second day just one point ahead over the European champion, consolidated her advantage in the long jump then followed up with a personal best in the javelin.

She finished with 6,861 points ahead of Lewis, who scored 6,724, with Syrian Ghada Shouaa in third place on 6,500.

Barber, an emigrant from Sierra Leone, also recorded personal bests in the high jump and hurdles.

Lewis virtually wrapped up her title in the penultimate event by throwing 163 feet, 8 inches in the javelin.

>
Marion Jones raises the roof after winning the 100; Gail Devers was out of the medals.(AP)

Barber's victory rendered moot the earlier controversy over Lewis' long jump.

Officials initially ruled that Lewis had fouled on her third jump, measured at 21-9½ inches.

After Lewis argued against the decision, the jump was ruled legal, then disallowed again. A few hours later, an appeals jury accepted a protest by the British federation and ruled that the jump would stand.

In other events:

-- Lars Riedel, bidding for his fifth consecutive world title, was among those qualifying for the men's discus final. The reigning Olympic champion had only the day's fifth best throw of 209-11.

Virgilijus Alekna of Lithuania, ranked No. 1 in the world last year, led the qualifiers with a throw of 216-1. Also advancing were world record-holder Juergen Schult and U.S. teammates Anthony Washington and Andy Bloom.

But John Godina, who lost his world shot-put title Saturday night, failed to qualify in the discus. His best effort was only 204-3, leaving him in 16th place.

-- Jamaica's Deon Hemmings ran the fastest time (54.27) in the heats of the women's 400 hurdles, followed by Sandra Glover-Cummings of the United States (54.47). Defending champion Nezha Bidouane of Morocco also advanced to the semifinals with the fourth-fastest time (54.64).

©1999 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed