Justin Gatlin, Sanya Richards, Jeremy Wariner, Michelle Perry and
Dominique Arnold all were winners in their respective events on a rainy
Friday night at the Weltklasse Golden League meet in Zurich,
Switzerland.The 2005 World Outdoor Championships women's 400m silver
medalist, Richards won her specialty in the fastest time in the world this
year and career best time of 48.92 seconds. Richards' performance
betters her previous world-leading time this year of 49.28 seconds set in
winning the 2005 USA Outdoor Championship earlier this summer in
Carson, Calif.
2005 world outdoor champion Tonique Williams-Darling of the
Bahamas was the runner-up in 49.30, with Americans Monique
Hennagan (50.24) and DeeDee Trotter (50.43) placing third and fourth
respectively.
Helsinki world outdoor championships fourth-place finisher Dominique
Arnold was the winner of the men's 110m hurdles with the second-
fastest time of his career of 13.03 seconds. Reigning Olympic champion
Liu Xiang of China was the runner-up in 13.12, with Americans Allen
Johnson (13.26) and Terrence Trammell (13.27) placing fourth and fifth
respectively.
Reigning world and Olympic champions Justin Gatlin and Jeremy
Wariner continued their winning ways as Gatlin enjoyed a convincing
victory in the men's 100 meters in 10.14 seconds. Portugal's Francis
Obikwelu was the runner-up in 10.22, with Ghana's Aziz Zakari the third
place finisher, also timed in 10.22.
Wariner also looked strong in winning the 400 meters in 44.67 seconds,
with Canada's world championships bronze medalist Christopher Tyler
the runner-up in 44.96 and Bahamian Christopher Brown placing third
in 44.97. 2005 world outdoor championships silver medalist Andrew
Rock placed fourth in 45.04.
2005 world outdoor championships gold medalist Michelle Perry
continued her world domination this season in the 100m hurdles with
her victory in 12.55 seconds. Jamaica's world championships bronze
medalist Brigitte Foster-Hylton was the runner-up in 12.69 and 2004
Olympic gold medalist Joanna Hayes was third in 12.79.
2005 world outdoor women's 100m champion Lauryn Williams set a
new personal best with her runner-up finish Friday night in 10.88
seconds, the third-fastest time in the world this year. Her performance
betters her previous PR of 10.91 set earlier this year in Lausanne on
July 5. Jamaica's Veronica Campbell won the race in 10.85 seconds,
the second-fastest time in the world in 2005.
Impressive performances were turned in by Americans in the men's
1,500 meters as Bernard Lagat finished as the runner-up in 3:31.04,
with 2005 world outdoor championships finalist Alan Webb placing third
in 3:33.40.
Elsewhere, the women's 400m hurdles mirrored the order of finish from
Helsinki as Russian world champion Yuliya Pechonkina won the race in
53.30 seconds with world champs silver medalist Lashinda Demus
finishing as the runner-up in 53.83 and Helsinki bronze medalist Sandra
Glover placing third in 53.91.
In field event action, 2005 world championships silver medalist Brad
Walker was the runner-up in the men's pole vault with a clearance of
5.60 meters/18 feet, 4.50 inches, and 2004 Olympic Trials champion
Jamie Nieto placed fourth in the men's high jump with a successful leap
of 2.20m/7-2.50.
For more information on the Weltklasse Zurich meet, including the
complete results, visit www.iaaf.org.