Courtesy: USATF

Fresh off the 2002 USA Outdoor Championships last week at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, a number of U.S. athletes did well Friday at the first event of this year's IAAF Golden League, the Exxon Mobil Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway.

World champion and Olympic gold medalist Marion Jones led the way with an easy victory in the women's 100 meters. Jones won the race in 10.96 seconds over runner-up Tayna Lawrence of Jamaica, who finished in 11.13. 2002 USA Outdoor runner-up Chryste Gaines was third in 11.20, followed by fourth-placer Chandra Sturrup of the Bahamas in 11.29. Kelli White, the runner-up in the 200 meters to Jones at this year's Nationals, was fifth in 11.35.

Two-time Olympic 100m gold medalist Gail Devers continued her domination of the women's 100m hurdles by winning in 12.53, the second-fastest time in the world this year. A three-time World 100m hurdles champion, Devers posted the fastest time in 2002 of 12.51 in winning her eighth U.S. hurdles title on Sunday. Jamaica's Bridgette Foster was second at Oslo in 12.79. Other Americans included Melissa Morrison (5th-12.94), 2001 World Outdoor champion Anjanette Kirkland (6th-13.02) and Donica Merriman (7th-13.04).

In the women's 400 meters, two-time U.S. Outdoor champion and 2000 Olympic 4x400m gold medalist LaTasha Colander-Richardson was third in 51.66, followed by 2002 U.S. runner-up Michelle Collins, who was fourth in 51.85. In the women's 1,500 meters, reigning U.S. indoor and outdoor champion Nicole Teter was sixth in 4:04.89 and Sarah Schwald, third in the women's 1,500 meters last week in Palo Alto, was 11th in 4:09.32.

Great Britain's Dwain Chambers, who finished fifth in the 100 meters at the 2001 World Outdoor Championships, defeated a stellar group of American sprinters at Oslo. Chambers won the men's 100 meters in 10.05, followed by world record holder and Olympic gold medalist Maurice Greene, second in 10.06. 2001 World Championships silver medalist Tim Montgomery was third in 10.10. Other Americans in the field were Jon Drummond (5th-10.21) and Bernard Williams (6th-10.29)

Leonard Byrd won a very competitive men's 400 meters in 45.75. Byrd, who owns the fastest time in the world this year, edged his gold medal winning 2001 World Outdoor Championships 4x400m relay teammates Antonio Pettigrew, second in 45.78, and Jerome Young, fourth in 46.83.

In the men's field events, 2001 USA Outdoor runner-up Tim Mack won the pole vault with a clearance of 5.70 meters/18 feet, 8.25 inches. 2002 USA Outdoor champ and American record holder Jeff Hartwig also cleared 5.70m/18-8.25 in finishing second with more misses. American Toby Stevenson was sixth with a best of 5.40m/17-8.50. Nick Hysong and Lawrence Johnson did not clear a height.

NCAA champion Tora Harris was third in the men's high jump at Oslo with a clearance of 2.24m/7-4.25, and in the men's triple jump, 2002 USA Outdoor champion Walter Davis was third with a best of 17.05m/55-11.25. Tim Rusan, the runner-up to Davis last week at Stanford, was fourth (16.98m/55-8.50).