U.S. stars Dwight Phillips, Derek Miles, Reese Hoffa, DeeDee Trotter
and Sandra Glover each won their respective events Monday at the
2005 GE Money Grand Prix at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland.In an event billed as a dress-rehearsal for the 2005 World Outdoor
Championships August 6-14 in Helsinki, Phillips won the men's long
jump on his first attempt. The 2004 Olympic gold medalist soared 8.44
meters/27 feet, 8.25 inches in his only fair jump of the competition to
take the win. Phillips, who owns the farthest jump in the world this year
with his leap of 8.47m/27-9.50 in Madrid, equaled the second best jump
globally this season with his performance.
Americans dominated the men's pole vault with 2004 Olympic finalist
Derek Miles winning the event with a clearance of 5.70m/18-8.25, with
Olympic silver medalist Toby Stevenson placing second with a best of
5.60m/18-4.50.
Elsewhere, there was a terrific battle in the men's shot put, where 2004
Olympian Reese Hoffa won the event by a mere three centimeters over
Ralf Bartels of Germany. Hoffa threw 20.93m/68-8 to win the event, with
fellow American Jamie Beyer placing seventh with a best of 19.47m/63-
10.50.
In women's action, 2004 Olympic 4x400m relay gold medalist DeeDee
Trotter was victorious in the 400 meters in 50.39 seconds, and Sandra
Glover, who ended the 2004 season ranked #1 in the world, led from
beginning to end to win the 400m hurdles in 54.27 seconds.
Americans finishing in second place in Helsinki included Khadevis
Robinson in the men's 800 meters (1:44.90), Muna Lee in the women's
100 meters (11.39) and Virginia Powell in the women's 100m hurdles
(13.06).
In relay action, Team USA's women's "Red" squad comprised of Angela
Daigle, Muna Lee, Lauryn Williams and LaTasha Colander won the
4x100m in 42.65 seconds, with Team USA "Blue" (Rachelle Boone-
Smith, Virginia Powell, LaShauntea Moore, Moushaumi Robinson)
finishing as the runners-up in 42.97.
The men's 4x100m relay was won by Trinidad and Tobago in 38.38
seconds, with Team USA "Red" (Rae Edwards, Wallace Spearmon,
Tyson Gay, Mark Jelks) finishing second in 38.50 and Team USA "Blue"
(Mardy Scales, Brian Johnson, DaBryan Blanton, Anthony Buchanan)
placing third in 39.06.
For more information on the 2005 GE Money Grand Prix, including the
complete results, visit
www.iaaf.org.