Jones wins comeback race

Meseret Defar of Ethiopia set the world record in women’s 5,000m in 14:24.53 on Saturday at the Reebok Grand Prix, breaking the mark of 14:24.68 set by Turkey’s Elvan Abeylegesse in 2004.

Meseret Defar of Ethiopia set the world record in women’s 5,000m in 14:24.53 on Saturday at the Reebok Grand Prix, breaking the mark of 14:24.68 set by Turkey’s Elvan Abeylegesse in 2004.

Running the final race of the night, Defar took command from the start and beat the field handily. Workitu Ayanu of Ethiopia was second in 14:50.51. Defar won Olympic gold at Athens in the 5,000 and finished second at the world championships last year. Abraham Chebii of Kenya won an exciting 5,000, sprinting on the final lap to finish in 13:04.56, the fastest time recorded on American soil. The top four finishers were Kenyan.

Marion Jones easily won the 100 m, crossing the line in 11.06 seconds to raucous cheers. The former Olympian beat a strong field that included world champion Lauryn Williams, top Jamaican Veronica Campbell and 2003 world champ Torri Edwards.

When Jones took her place in the blocks on a cool and breezy night, the crowd cheered her. After a false start sent the runners back to the blocks, Jones took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She got off to a good start, but was way ahead by 60 m, winning her third meet of the year since she started her comeback following an 11-month absence during which she battled injuries and doping allegations.

“Overall I felt pretty good,” Jones said. “The conditions weren’t great, but any time you get a victory it’s another step.”

After her race, she waived and smiled to the crowd as she did a post-race interview. Jones said she will run a 200 m race in Europe before running in the 100 and 200 at the US nationals in Indianapolis later this month.

In the men’s 100m, co-world record holder Justin Gatlin also won easily, clocking 9.87 seconds in the final sprint event of the evening. American Tyson Gay was second in 10.04.

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But all eyes were on the 30-year-old Jones in her first race in the United States in more than a year. Her time matched her fast mark of the year, which she first ran in her opening meet in Mexico last month. Jones has had a tumultuous journey over the last few years. After winning five medals, including three gold, in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Jones took 2003 off to have her son. Things haven’t quite been the same since then.

She was shut out of medals at the 2004 Athens Games and all the while, doping allegations have dogged her. Interestingly, Jones never has tested positive for drugs.