Posted: July 2, 2007

Athletics: News & Notes, Volume 8, Number 58

U.S. hurdlers sweep in Athens A trio of U.S. stars dominated the men's 400m hurdles Monday at the Athens Grand Prix at Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece. Reigning world champion Bershawn Jackson won the race in 48.15 seconds, which is his second-fastest time this season. Kenneth Ferguson, who placed fourth at the 2007 AT&T USA Outdoor Championships last month in Indianapolis, was the runner-up in 48.16 and 2005 World Outdoor Championships silver medalist James Carter, who owns the fastest time in the world this year of 47.72, was third in 48.25. In other men's events, 110m hurdlers David Oliver and David Payne placed second and third in Athens, after placing third and fourth respectively at Indy. Oliver crossed the finish line in 13.14 seconds, with Payne close behind in 13.19. Cuba's Dayron Robles was the winner in 13.11. High jumper Jesse Williams, who placed fourth last month at Nationals, was the men's victor in Athens with a clearance of 2.32 meters/7 feet, 7.25 inches. His performance ties two others for the third-highest clearance this outdoor season, and equals his personal best set last year. In women's action, four-time NCAA 100m champion Angela Williams posted her second-fastest time this season with her winning time of 11.12 seconds. Bahamian Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie was the runner-up in 11.15 seconds, followed by Americans Brianna Glenn (3rd-11.19) and Me'Lisa Barber (4th-11.19). For more information on the 2007 Athens Grand Prix, including the complete results, visit: IAAF.org. Sorensen sets another masters world record Jim Sorensen of San Leandro, Calif., continued his assault on the masters record books Saturday with an M40 world record at an American Milers Club meet at Indiana University in Bloomington. Sorensen finished the 800 meters in 1 minute 50.34 seconds, which bettered the previous M40 world record of 1:50.69 by Ireland's Colm Rothery set in 2000. Sorensen's performance also improved upon his American 800m record of 1:51.57 set in mid-May. Sorensen set the M40 1,500m world record on June 4 when he stopped the clock at 3 minutes 44.06 seconds at the Jim Bush/Southern California meet in Los Angeles. Sorensen's performance bettered the previous M40 world record of 3:44.89 by Luis Jose Gonsalvez in 1999. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest