May 22, 2007	Tuesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 05, 1428

CARSON (California), May 21: Ethiopian distance runner Meseret Defar and American sprint sensation Tyson Gay lit up the Adidas Track Classic with glittering performances at the Home Depot Centre on Sunday.

Defar defied a bout of food poisoning to set a world record in the women's two-mile run and Gay powered to victory in the men's 100 metres with a wind-assisted time of 9.79 seconds.

In other races, world and Olympic gold medallist Jeremy Wariner outclassed the opposition in the men's 400 metres and fellow American Allyson Felix set the fastest time this year to win the women's 200 metres.

Defar, the Olympic 5,000 metres champion, romped to victory with a new world mark of nine minutes, 10.47 seconds despite having vomited shortly before the race.

“I think it must have been something I ate,” the 23-year-old from Addis Ababa told reporters after setting her fourth world record.

“I had a warm-up of 15 minutes and then I vomited two or three times just two minutes before the start. I was scared and thought that maybe I couldn't beat the record.

“But once I started the race, I was okay. With two laps to go, I knew I was going to break the record.”

Defar, who broke the previous mark of 9:11.97 set by American Regina Jacobs in 1999, finished ahead of Canada's Megan Metcalf (9:37.04) and American Kara Goucher (9:41.32).

Gay's performance, the fastest this year, would have equalled the American record set by former Olympic champion Maurice Greene in 2005 had it not been for a stiff breeze.

“That tail wind of 2.5 was more than I wanted but I think I can do the same time with a 1.8 at my back,” said Gay, who finished ahead of compatriot Derrick Atkins and Jamaican Steve Mullings.

A crowd of 6,208 had hoped to see a head-to-head between Gay and Greene but the three-time 100-metre world champion failed to make the final after finishing last in his heat.

“I don't like to see Maurice hurt, maybe he's still struggling with his leg,” Gay said.

“I expect to see him to do some great things at the USA meet,” he added, referring to next month's US national championships in Indianapolis.

Wariner, who set the year's fastest time with 44.02 in Osaka, Japan earlier this month, was unhappy with his start.

“I didn't get out too good on the first turn, which affected me the most,” he said after powering to victory in 44.60 seconds.

“The coach said I was 22.12 for the first 200 but the wind down the back straight didn't work out well at all. But my final kick was good.

“I've got to put the best parts of my races together at the same time,” added the 23-year-old, who finished ahead of Chris Brown of the Bahamas (45.10) and Jamaican Sanjay Ayre (45.25).

Felix dominated the women's 200 metres, cruising home in 22.18 seconds with compatriot LaShauntea Moore second in 22.46.

“I tried to stay on the inside of the curb and it felt better for me,” the 2005 world champion said.

Leading results:

MEN’S:

100 metres: 1. Tyson Gay (US) 9.79 seconds; 2. Derrick Atkins (US) 9.86; 3. Steve Mullings (Jamaica) 10.02.

200 metres: 1. Wallace Spearmon (US) 19.91 seconds; 2. Lashawn Merritt (US) 19.98; 3. Shawn Crawford (US) 20.21.

400 metres: 1. Jeremy Wariner (US) 44.60 seconds; 2. Chris Brown (Bahamas) 45.10; 3. Sanjay Ayre (Jamaica) 45.25.

1500 metres: 1. Nick Willis (New Zealand) three minutes 35.85 seconds; 2. Alistair Cragg (Ireland) 3:36.18; 3. Rob Myers (US) 3:36.49.

110-metre hurdles: 1. Terrence Trammell (US) 13.17 seconds; 2. David Payne (US) 13.28; 3. David Oliver (US) 13.29

400-metre hurdles: 1. Kenneth Ferguson (US) 48.15 seconds; 2. Kerron Clement (US) 48.46; 3. James Carter (US) 48.76.

Shot put: 1. Christian Cantwell (US) 21.96 metres; 2. Adam Nelson (US) 21.47; 3. Reese Hoffa (US) 21.36.

WOMEN’S:

100 metres: 1. Torri Edwards (US) 10.90 seconds; 2. Veronica Campbell (Jamaica) 10.91; 3. Lisa Barber (US) 10.95.

400 metres: 1. Novlene Williams (Jamaica) 50.66 seconds; 2. Dee Dee Trotter (US) 51.13; 3. Shereefa Lloyd (Jamaica) 51.36.

Two miles: 1. Meseret Defar (Ethiopia) nine minutes 10.47 seconds (world record); 2. Megan Metcalf (Canada) 9:37.04; 3. Kara Goucher (US) 9:41.32.

100-metre hurdles: 1. Michelle Perry (US) 12.58 seconds; 2. Virginia Powell (US) 12.61, 3. Lolo Jones (US) 12.61

Pole vault: 1. Jenny Stuczynski (US) 4.84 metres; 2. Mary Sauer (US) 4.44; 3. Jillian Schawarz (US) 4.44.—Agencies