July 04, 2007	Wednesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 18, 1428

ATHENS, July 3: Derrick Atkins of Bahamas laid down a marker for next month's world championships by clocking his second sub-10 second run of the year in winning the 100 metres at the Athens Grand Prix on Monday.

Atkins, who ran 9.98 in California in April, ran a personal best of 9.95 – the fourth fastest time in the world this year.

“I had some trouble with my start but in the end I was very strong. My next target is a faster time,” he said.

Britain's Marlon Devenish came second in 10.09, marginally ahead of Portugal's Francis Obikwelu.

It was a bad night for Olympic 200 metre champion Veronica Campbell of Jamaica who pulled up in her 100 metres heat, which was won by the American Angela Williams in 11.12, and then did not take part in the 200 metres.

Bershawn Jackson produced a thrilling finish to take the 400 metres hurdles by the narrowest of margins.

The American stole past compatriot James Carter, the world's fastest this year, and Kenneth Ferguson to hit the tape in 48.15 seconds, just one-tenth of a second ahead of Ferguson.

“I wasn't thinking about the time, but about position. Bershawn pushed me more than I expected,” said Ferguson.

Carter came third while European champion Pericles Iakovakis, on his home track, could only manage sixth after tying up in the home straight.

In the women's event Jana Rawlinson of Australia set the fifth fastest time of the year as she won her heat in 54.25.

Olympic champion Fani Chalkia pulled out of the race after pulling a muscle in her back during the warm-up.

Russian world record holder Gulnara Samitova-Galkina set the fastest time in the world this year in the women's 3000 metre steeplechase although her time of 9:11.68 never threatened her record.

Fellow Russian Tatiana Lebedeva also set a season's best as she won the triple jump with a leap of 15.14 metres.

Leading results:

MEN’S:

100 metres: 1. Derrick Atkins (Bahamas) 9.95 metres; 2. Marlon Devonish (Britain) 10.09; 3. Francis Obikwelu (Portugal) 10.11.

800 metres: 1. Yuriy Borzakovskiy (Russia) one minute 44.38 seconds; 2. Mohamed Al Azimi (Kuwait) 1:44.55; 3. Gary Reed (Canada) 1:44.66.

1500 metres: 1. Belal Mansoor Ali (Bahrain) three minutes 31.49 seconds; 2. Daniel Kipchirchir Komen (Kenya) 3:32.44; 3. Youssef Baba (Morocco) 3:32.83.

110-metre hurdles: 1. Dayron Robles (Cuba) 13.11 seconds; 2. David Oliver (US) 13.14; 3. David Payne (US) 13.19.

400-metre hurdles: 1. Bershawn Jackson (US) 48.15 seconds; 2. Kenneth Ferguson (US) 48.16; 3. James Carter (US) 48.25.

3000-metre steeplechase: 1. Ezekiel Kemboi (Kenya) eight minutes 05.50 seconds; 2. Richard Kipkemboi Mateelong (Kenya) 8:06.66; 3. Brimin Kipruto (Kenya) 8:06.98.

High jump: 1. Jesse Williams (US) 2.32 metres; 2. Andrey Tereshin (Russia) 2.30; 3. Kyriacos Ioannou (Cyprus) 2.30.

Long jump: 1. Andrew Howe (Italy) 8.17 metres; 2. Trevell Quinley (US) 8.13; 3. Louis Tsatoumas (Greece) 8.10.

Pole vault: 1. Steven Hooker (Australia) 5.85 metres; 2. Igor Pavlov (Russia) 5.80; 3. Brad Walker (US) 5.75.

Discus throw: 1. Virgilijus Alekna (Lithuania) 70.43 metres; 2. Mario Pestano (Spain) 68.26; 3. Gerd Kanter (Estonia) 67.22.

WOMEN’S:

100 metres: 1. Angela Williams (US) 11.12 seconds; 2. Debbie Ferguson (Bahamas) 11.15; 3. Brianna Glenn (US) 11.19.

200 metres: 1. Debbie Ferguson (Bahamas) 22.49 seconds; 2. Muriel Hurtis (France) 22.50; 3. Kim Gevaert (Belgium) 22.62.

800 metres: 1. Svetlana Cherkasova (Russia) one minute 59.03 seconds; 2. Janeth Jepkosgei (Kenya) 1:59.14; 3. Elisa Cusma Piccione (Italy) 1:59.22.

1500 metres: 1. Yelena Soboleva (Russia) three minutes 58.30 seconds; 2. Maryam Yusuf Jamal (Bahrain) 3:59.00; 3. Yuliya Chizhenko (Russia) 4:00.70.

400-metre hurdles: 1. Jana Pittman (Australia) 54.25 seconds; 2. Tiffany Ross-Williams (US) 54.38; 3. Angela Morosanu (Romania) 54.40.

3000-metre steeplechase: 1. Gulnara Samitova (Russia) nine minutes 11.68 seconds; 2. Eunice Jepkorir (Kenya) 9:14.52; 3. Wioletta Janowska (Poland) 9:28.97.

Triple jump: 1. Tatyana Lebedeva (Russia) 15.14 metres; 2. Yargelis Savigne (Cuba) 14.72; 3. Hrysopiyi Devetzi (Greece) 14.57.

Javelin throw: 1. Christina Obergfoell (Germany) 67.78 metres; 2. Barbora Spotakova (Czech Republic) 66.08; 3. Sonia Bisset (Cuba) 64.65.—Reuters