Dual Olympian and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Sarah Jamieson was the outstanding Australian athlete at the Prefontaine Classic, held in the United States earlier today.

Jamieson ran a personal best of 4:03.13 to finish fourth in the 1500m, behind Russian World Champion Tatyana Tomashova. In the fastest race of the year Tomashova won in 4:01.81, with 2005 world No.1 Maryam Jamal of Bahrain second in 4:02.55.

Australian Benita Johnson, the former World Cross Country Champion, placed eleventh in 4:07.90.

Jamieson’s previous best of 4:03.51 was set in Osaka three weeks ago. She is edging closer to Margaret Crowley’s 10-year old Australian record of 4:01.34.

Commonwealth 400m champion John Steffensen finished eighth in a world class field.

It was the West Australian’s first race in two months with his time of 45.82 much slower than the 44.73 he ran to win in Melbourne. American LaShawn Merritt won in 44.88.

Craig Mottram was entered in the two-mile event against Kenya’s 5000m World Champion Benjamin Limo. However, Mottram failed to take his place in the race that Limo won in 8:10.59.

In other results, Olympic gold medallist Liu Xiang of China pulled away from Ladji Doucoure and Allen Johnson to win the 110-metre hurdles.

Liu, the co-world record-holder, won in 13.21 seconds, the fastest time in the event this year. Doucoure, the Frenchman who won last year's world title, was a distant second at 13.33. Johnson, the 1996 Olympic gold medallist and four-time world champion, was third at 13.39.

In one of the best races of the day, reigning world champion Michelle Perry leaned in just ahead of Damu Cherry to win the 100 hurdles in 12.63 seconds, tying Priscilla Lopes of Canada for the fastest time in the world this year.

Maria Mutola of Mozambique won the 800 for the 14th consecutive time, outsprinting Kenia Sinclair of Jamaica and American Hazel Clark to win in 1:58.86. Sinclair was second at 1:59.00, a tenth of a second ahead of Clark.

 World champion Bershawn Jackson of the United States eased to victory in the 400-meter hurdles in 48.22 seconds. His U.S. teammate Kerron Clement was second at 49.18.

Wallace Spearmon, runner-up at last year's worlds, won the 200 in 20.27.

Jackson and Spearmon are part of the young wave of U.S. track talent which is dominating the sport. Jackson just turned 23 and Spearmon 21.

Torri Edwards continues her return from a dopoing suspension winning the women's 100m in 11.08 seconds.

In a downpour which preceded the start of the meet, distance running great Hachim El Guerrouj got a standing ovation in a farewell lap following his retirement from racing last week. 

AOC