OSAKA, Japan -- American Allyson Felix defended her title in the women's 200 meters and prevented Veronica Campbell from getting a sprint double at the track and field world championships on Friday.
Felix, who skipped the 100 to concentrate on the 200, won in 21.81 seconds after coming off the bend in good shape and taking the lead from Campbell halfway down the straightaway.
Jamaica's Campbell, who won the 100, got silver in 22.34 and Susanthika Jayasinghe of Sri Lanka won bronze in 22.63.
Americans filled fourth and fifth places with Torri Edwards in 22.65 and Sanya Richards in 22.70.
In other results Friday, Bryan Clay's defense of the decathlon world title ended early, while Cuba's Yargelis Savigne kept Russia's Tatyana Lebedeva from a triple-and-long jump double Friday by winning the multistep event with a season's best leap of 50 feet, 1¾ inches. Lebedeva jumped 49-5½.
Clay hurt his right quadriceps when he planted his foot for his second attempt in the high jump at 6-6¾, and slumped under the bar onto the mat. He limped away and did not return to competition.
"He heard something pop," said his agent, Paul Doyle, adding the injury made it impossible for Clay to run the 400 meters.
Jamaican Maurice Smith also failed at the same height and could not further build his lead in the standings. Czech Olympic champion Roman Sebrle however moved up into second place when he cleared a season's best 6-11½.
After 4 of 10 events, Smith had 3,591 points for a 28-point edge over Sebrle. Clay had faded to third with 3,558.
Clay's misfortune in the high jump spoiled a good opening to the competition. He started with victories in the 100 and the long jump. But he slipped behind Smith after the shot put.
After failing to defend his 1,500 title and finishing with silver, Rachid Ramzi of Bahrain could not even make the final of the 800 on Friday. In his semifinal, he faltered badly and finished last of his race. Favorite Yuri Borzakovsky easily won his semifinal to advance to Sunday's final.
While Clay and Ramzi had trouble in the stadium, for Russia, it was a walk in the park earlier Friday.
Olga Kaniskina led a 1-2 finish in the women's 20-kilometer walk through the muggy parkland outside the Nagai stadium, keeping Russia in close contention with the United States in the medal standings.
And Russia had to do it without defending champion Olimpiada Ivanova, who walked out early when the pain of an old skiing accident became too much.
Instead of 37-year-old Ivanova, a new generation took over. Kaniskina, 22, who walked away from the pack early, was never troubled again. Behind her, 19-year-old Tatyana Shemyakina won silver.
"To be world champion after 2½ years of serious walking training is great," said Kaniskina.
Russia now has 13 medals, including four gold. The U.S. team also has 13 medals, but has six gold.
In the high jump, season's leader Blanka Vlasic of Croatia was among 16 who reached the qualifying mark of 6-4. Defending champion Kajsa Bergqvist of Sweden, Olympic champion Yelena Slesarenko and European titlist Tia Hellebaut also advanced.
In the javelin, defending champion Andrus Varnik of Estonia failed to qualify for the final.
Vadims Vasilevskis of Latvia had the top throw of 286-7. Season's leader Breaux Greer of the United States, Olympic champion Andreas Thorkildsen and Finland's Tero Pitkamaki also advanced.
Later Friday, Liu Xiang was favorite to give China its first gold of the championships in the 110-meter hurdles.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
Source: ESPN.com
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