OSLO, July 30: Frenchman Ladji Doucoure held off a strong field including four-times world champion Allen Johnson to win the 110 metres hurdles at the Bislett Games on Friday in the final meeting before the Helsinki world championships. On a good night for France, the contest for the million dollar Golden League jackpot narrowed to French sprinter Christine Arron and Russian triple jumper Tatyana Lebedeva after American Lashinda Demus lost in the 400 metres hurdles.

Doucoure, 22, beat three Americans in one of the strongest high hurdles fields this year in a time of 13.00 seconds. Joel Brown trailed in 13.22 and Terrence Trammell, the Olympic silver medallist from Athens and Sydney, finished third in 13.27. Johnson, the 1996 Olympic gold medallist returning after a four-week injury break, could manage only fourth in 13.34 in the refurbished Bislett stadium which included Norway’s King Harald among the spectators.

Doucoure, the most recent addition to an exclusive club who have clocked under 13 seconds, said the world championships in Helsinki from August 6-14 would bring different pressures. Demus stumbled at the line in the 400 metres hurdles to be overtaken by compatriot Sandra Glover, the 2003 world silver medallist, and Poland’s Anna Jesien.

The 22-year-old American finished third, putting her out of the jackpot race with three of the six Golden League meetings remaining. Arron’s 100 metres victory, in a time of 11.06 seconds, was far from flawless.

The European record holder beat Americans Lauryn Williams, and Latasha Colander. Lebedeva easily won the triple jump with a leap of 14.89 metres, ahead of Jamaica’s Trecia Street.

In the men’s javelin, Finland’s Tero Pitamaki won against a strong field with 90.54 metres.

Olympic gold medallist Anders Thorkildsen of Norway brought the biggest roar to the stadium with a Norwegian record 87.66 metres throw to finish third.

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