Joanna Hayes, Lashinda Demus, James Carter and Brad Walker all
won their respective events Friday at the first event of the 2005 IAAF
Golden League, the Gaz de France in Paris.After her runner-up finish last week at the USA Outdoor Championships,
2004 Olympic gold medalist Joanna Hayes bounced back with a win
Friday in her second-best time this season of 12.60 seconds. 2004 Gaz
de France champion Perdita Felicien of Canada was the runner-up in
12.66 seconds.
2005 USA Outdoor champion Lashinda Demus was victorious in the
400m hurdles, winning the race in 53.85 seconds, equaling her third-
fastest time this year. Poland's Anna Jesien was the runner-up in 53.96.
In men's action, two-time Olympic Games fourth-place finisher James
Carter won the 400m hurdles in 48.05 seconds, with fellow American
Ken Ferguson placing fourth in 48.84. 2005 USA Outdoor pole vault
champion Brad Walker continued his winning ways thanks to a
clearance of 5.80 meters/19 feet, .25 inch, with 2004 Olympic silver
medalist Toby Stevenson finishing third by clearing 5.50m/18-0.50.
Americans posting runner-up finishes Friday in Paris included four-time
world outdoor champion Allen Johnson in the 110m hurdles (13.04),
2004 Olympic 400m bronze medalist and 4x400m relay gold medalist
Derrick Brew (45.30) and Bernard Lagat in the 1,500 meters (3:30.64).
For more information on the 2005 Gaz de France and the IAAF Golden
League, visit
www.iaaf.org.