Americans win in Olympic sprint rematches

In the Nike men's 100, 2004 Olympic gold medalist Justin Gatlin jumpstarted his season with a wind-aided (+3.4 m/s) personal best 9.84, nosing ahead of 2005 world leader Asafa Powell of Jamaica at the finish (second, 9.84w), in perhaps the most anticipated sprint matchup of the season. Close behind, American Leonard Scott (third, 9.94) dipped below 10.00 seconds for the first time ever.

On the women's side, Olympic silver medalist Lauryn Williams wasted little time in the 100 and ran away with a comfortable, .13-second win into a headwind (11.16, w:-0.7), with Olympic Trials champion LaTasha Colander (second, 11.29) and Muna Lee (third, 11.32) in tow. Olympic gold medalist Yuliya Nesterenko of Belarus finished eighth in 11.47.

Record-setting 2 mile race

In the meet finale and special edition two-mile, Kenyan Eliude Kipchoge broke the U.S. All-Comers record formerly held by U.S. Olympian Bob Kennedy from the 1995 Prefontaine Classic (8:14.53). The Kenyan comfortably strided through a 4:02 first mile with American Alan Webb a few steps back, and Webb hung on for second overall in an American two-mile record of 8:11.48. Fellow American Dathan Ritzenhein utilized a more cautious strategy and raced solo in the back half of the field en route to sixth place (8:23.45). The two-mile also featured full-automatic-timed 3,000 splits, and Kipchoge's mark of 7:35.44 broke former University of Oregon NCAA champion Rudy Chapa's Hayward Field track record and then-American record of 7:37.70 from 1979.

Olympic gold medalists go 1-1 in sprint hurdles

Chinese gold medalist Liu Xiang won the 24 Hour Fitness men's 110 hurdles in a world-leading time of 13.06, breaking the former meet and Hayward Field record of 13.12 run by Allen Johnson and Larry Wade. The eight-man field was filled out by a septet of Americans paced by Terrence Trammell (second, 13.12) and Dominique Arnold (third, 13.16). Four-time world champion Allen Johnson false-started and was disqualified. Already ranked third in the world in '05, Trammell improved his season best by .06 seconds, and Arnold enjoyed a .05-second season best.

In the Visa women's 100 hurdles, Canada's world champion, Perdita Felicien, braved a .-0.6 m/s headwind to claim a .06-second world season leader (12.58), and dispatch America's Olympic gold medalist Joanna Hayes (12.72).

In the men's 400 hurdles, American and world leader Bershawn Jackson survived a stumble on the second hurdle to win by .04 seconds (47.91), and was only .22 seconds off former Olympic gold medalist Kevin Young's Hayward Field record (47.69, 1993). Jackson took the lead in the final 50 meters when he passed American James Carter (second, 47.95), and Carter's .47-second season best moved him to second in the world this year.

Middle distance report

In the Nike Bowerman Mile, Kenyan Alex Kipchirchir won by almost a half second (3:50.91), and was more than five seconds faster than the previous 2005 world leader (3:56.08). Bernard Lagat (third, 3:51.53) led the U.S. contingent. Four other American - Rob Myers (fifth, 3:54.87), Charlie Gruber (seventh, 3:56.92), Scott McGowan (eighth, 3:57.21) and Adam Goucher (ninth, 3:57.23) - added sub-4:00 clockings.

Former Eugene resident and Springfield High School graduate Maria Mutola raised her Prefontaine Classic unbeaten streak to 13 races straight as she won the women's 800 (1:59.95 world leader) by .20 seconds over Jamaican Kenia Sinclair (second, 2:00.15). Americans Frances Santin and Hazel Clark were DNFs after they crashed on the backstretch.

Christin Wurth-Thomas won the 1,500 (4:09.45) over American Treniere Clement (second, 4:10.46) in a race marred by a collision at the bell that took down favorites Shayne Culpepper of the U.S. and Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain.

Canadian Gary Reed clocked the second-fastest time in the world this campaign in the 800 (first, 1:44.82) and survived a kick by Russian Olympic gold medalist Yuri Borzakovskiy (second, 1:44.91). Americans Khadevis Robinson and David Krummenacker followed in third (1:45.43) and fourth (1:45.43), respectively.

Williams-Darling prevails in women's 400m duel

In the Hershey's women's 400, Tonique Williams-Darling of the Bahamas took the lead early en route to the win (49.95) , 03 seconds ahead of American Sanya Richards (second, 49.98). Darling's mark moved her atop the world season list by .01 seconds ahead of Richards who had run 49.96 in Kingston, Jamaica in early May, and Richards now owns the second- and third-fastest times in the world this year.

Jamaican Michael Blackwood won the Visa men's 400 (45.48) over four Americans who was separated by only .03 seconds - LaShawn Merritt (second, 45.57), Andrew Rock (third, 45.58) and Tyree Washington (fourth 45.59), while Olympic bronze medalist Derrick Brew was fifth, (45.64).

Walker, Aldrich break out in the field

In the field, American Brad Walker moved to second in the world in the pole vault (5.90m/19-4.25) with a three-inch personal best and first-attempt clearance at his final bar. Olympians Toby Stevenson (second, 5.90m/19-4.25) and Derek Miles (third, 5.80m/19-0.25).

High jumper Erin Aldrich moved into a tie at #1 on the U.S. season best list and #2 in the world as she tied her personal best Saturday with a winning clearance of 1.95m/6-4.75). Fellow American Ifoma Jones was second with a personal-best 1.92m/6-3.5. Olympic gold medalist Yelena Slesarenko was third.

In the triple jump, Leevan Sands leaped his daily best on his second attempt (17.16m/56-3.75 w:+2.9) for a half-inch win over Yanxi Li of China (second, 17.15m/56-3.25 w:0.6).

Russian Tatyana Kotova saved her best marks for her last two attempts (6.80m/22-3.75 w:1.1 and 6.79m/22-3.5 w:1.5) to win the competition.