White sprints to 100m glory with season’s best

AMERICAN Kelli White won the women’s 100m title last night.

The 26-year-old, who was seventh in the final two years ago, timed a season-leading 10.95sec, beating compatriot Torri Edwards into second, while 2001 champion Zhanna Blocka of the Ukraine took third.

The absence of Marion Jones, who gave birth earlier this year, mattered not a jot to the feisty American.

"A world championship title is one whether Jones is here or not," she said.

White had delivered the fastest time in the semi-finals and now has a chance of doubling up, as she runs in the 200m later in the week.

Veteran Gail Devers finished last, but the 35-year-old also has a chance of a title, as she bids for her fourth in the 100m hurdles later in the week.

Home hope Christine Arron flattered to deceive, fading into sixth.

Earlier, Kenenisa Bekele led an Ethiopian 1-2-3 in the men's 10,000m at the World Athletics Championships, replacing four-time winner Haile Gebrselassie as the new force.

The 21-year-old not only left Gebrselassie trailing in second but also broke his championship record by 23 seconds, achieving 26min 49.57sec.

Sileshi Sihine held on for bronze to ensure the Ethiopian men went one better than their women teammates, who made a 1-2 in their 10,000m.

Ireland's Cathal Lombard was very much a part of the race throughout the early stages, slotting himself into the top 12 and making all the right decisions.

Steady 66-67 second laps were comfortable for him, and even when former Olympic 5,000m champion Dieter Baumann produced a 63.80 lap he was quick to respond.

He was in the middle of the main field when they went through the opening kilometre in 2:44.75.

It was not until Gebrselassie went to the front with a 62.17sec lap that he yielded to the ferocious pressure which split the field. He found himself at the back but worked his way up, overtaking Americans Mebrahtom Keflezighi and Daniel Browne, as well as Tomoo Tsubota of Japan, with whom he would later become embroiled in a personal duel.

In the end he had to settle for 17th position and a time of 28:36.43, which was well outside his target.

In the men's 100m heats, the false start rule, which was introduced this season, produced a farcical scene when veteran American runner Jon Drummond left the track in tears.

The 35-year-old self-styled Clown Prince of the Track had delayed the quarter-final for 20 minutes after refusing to accept his disqualification.

Under the new regulation, once any athlete has committed one false start, the next person who jumps the gun is thrown out of the race, regardless of who was penalised first.

Drummond remonstrated with officials after being called for the second false start and lay down on the track so the race couldn't take place, while Jamaica's Asafa Powell also stood his ground after being similarly penalised.

Both Drummond and Powell were finally persuaded to leave but as they left, an official told them they could in fact return to the blocks.

Subsequently, the runners were told they would race after the heat which should have followed theirs, so they could regather themselves.

This farce followed the first-round heats, in which three runners were disqualified.