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
