Courtesy: USATF

2000 Olympic silver medalist Adam Nelson set a world-leading mark in defeating America's best shot putters Saturday in front of an enthusiastic crowd at the 12th annual adidas Oregon Track Classic in Portland, Oregon, the first event of the 2002 USATF Outdoor Golden Spike Tour. The adidas Oregon Track Classic is an IAAF Grand Prix II event.

Nelson put the pressure on the field with his first attempt, a world-leading 22.48 meters/73 feet, 9 inches, followed by his second throw of 22.50m/73-10, which won the event. Nelson completed his amazing series with a 21.82m/71-7 and a throw of 22.12m/72-7. He also had two fouls. Nelson's winning throw makes him the fourth-best U.S performer ever and it was the fifth-best ever performance by an American.

Three-time World Outdoor champion and two-time Olympic medalist John Godina was the runner-up with a best of 21.89m/71-10. Kevin Toth continued his strong comeback this season with a third-place finish of 21.78m/71-5.5.

"I'm just beginning," said Nelson. "I've got bigger things in store. As long as I can stay healthy and get ready for Nationals there's going to be some really big things coming on especially if we have competitions like this with Kevin Toth, Andy Bloom, John Godina and Brad Snyder and all those guys pushing everybody. If we keep getting crowds like this there's going to be some big things coming. Throwing a 73-footer early in the competition was completely unexpected. I fouled earlier this year at 73-8, so I knew I could do it, but to throw that far back-to-back was more than I could ever want right now. The fans were awesome today. I can't talk enough about them."

In other events, U.S. record holder David Krummenacker came off the final turn and blasted past Japheth Kimutai and William Chirchir to win the 1,000 meters in 2 minutes, 15.97 seconds, the fastest time ever by an American on U.S. soil. Krummenacker, the reigning U.S. Outdoor 800m champ, edged runner-up Kimutai (2:16.14) and Chirchir, who was third in 2:16.24.

Coby Miller surprised a strong field in the men's 100 meters with his victory in 9.98 seconds, which equaled his personal best from the semifinals at the 2000 NCAA Division I Championships. Miller returned to competition this indoor season after suffering a broken fibula in his left leg in winning the 2001 USA Indoor 60m title. Kim Collins of Saint Kitts & Nevis was the runner-up in 10.04, with 2001 World Outdoor 200m champion Shawn Crawford third in 10.09.

In the men's steeplechase, Tim Broe's attempt at Henry Marsh's 1985 American record of 8:09.17 fell short as he placed third in 8:18.06. Morrocan world record holder Brahim Boulami ran the fastest time ever on American soil with his world leading time of 8:04.51, which bettered the previous May 1978 standard of 8:05.4 by Kenya's Henry Rono - set just 180 miles up I-5 in Seattle.

In other men's events, 2000 U.S. Indoor champion Matt Hemingway won the event with a clearance of 2.32m/7-7.25. Canada's Mark Boswell also cleared that height, but Hemingway was declared the winner on fewer misses. Charles Clinger, who had the third best mark in the world last year of 2.35m/7-8.5, was third with a best of 2.21m/7-3.

Kenya's Abraham Chebii won the 3,000 meters in 7:44.86, followed by countrymen Albert Chepkurui (2nd-7:47.63) and last year's IAAF 3,000m Grand Prix champion Luke Kipkoskei (3rd-7:48.55). In the men's mile, Kenyan David Lelei just edged 2001 NCAA Outdoor 1,500m champion Bryan Berryhill in a hard-fought battle. Lelei won it in 3:55.49, with Berryhill second in 3:55.60.

In women's events, U.S. record holder Nicole Teter won the SoBe women's 800 meters with little difficulty in 2:00.52, followed by Canada's Diane Cummins, who was second in 2:00.72. 2002 U.S. 60m hurdles runner- up Miesha McKelvy beat a strong field in the adidas women's 100m hurdles in 12.73 followed closely by Jamaica's runner-up Lacena Golding in 12.98 and Donica Merriman was third in 13.00.

Ethiopia's 2002 World Cross Country Championships 4K silver medalist Tirunesh Dibaba won the 5,000 meters in 15:13.78, followed closely by U.S. 2000 Olympic 1,500m finalist and 5,000m indoor record holder Marla Runyan, who was second in 15:13.96. Cheri Kenah finished third in 15:14.69. Chad's Kaltouma Nadjina won the 400 meters in 51.58, just edging 1993 World Outdoor Championships gold medalist Jearl Miles-Clark, who was the runner-up in 51.66. Two-time U.S.Indoor 400m champion Suziann Reid was third in 51.99.

Savatheda Fynes of the Bahamas won the women's 100 meters followed by 2000 Olympic bronze medalist Tanya Lawrence of Jamaica and her countrywoman Beverly McDonald. 2001 World Outdoor Championships fourth-placer Tasha Jenkins was fourth. Due to a technical malfunction, no times were available for this race.

In the women's field events, 2002 U.S. Indoor champion Mary Sauer set a new personal best in winning with a clearance of 4.62m/15-1.75. Her previous career best of 4.61m/15-1.50 set in 2001. In the women's discus, 1997 world champion Beatrice Faumuina of New Zealand won the event with a best of 63.51m/208-4. Aretha Hill was second (63.40m/208-0), with American record holder Suzy Powell third (62.25m/204-2).

QUOTES

John Godina, 2nd men's shot put: "I don't know where this competition ranks on the all-time meets in the world but this has to be close to the top. To throw 71-10 and get second, what are you going to do? Now my job is to get ready for the U.S. Championships. I did pretty well considering the work I've had this week. It's not any fun to lose, but I got close to my PR and it was a really, really great performance on Adam's (Nelson) part."

Kevin Toth, 3rd men's shot put: "Unbelievable! I'm so glad to be a part of this competition, but I wish I could've thrown better. I really felt I was going to throw 22 meters for the first time in my career, but I opened up at 21.78 so I can only keep improving. I know what's there and I know what I'm capable of. Adam threw great today in one of the greatest meets ever. This was only our first meet together this year, so watch out in Eugene next week that's all I can say."

Miesha McKelvy, winner, women's adidas 100m hurdles: "I had a good time! It's fun to run well. I expected to run this fast last week but I didn't, so I just figured I'm on God's time and he'll give it to me when he's ready, and I guess I was ready to have it. We all line-up and we all run fast, and that's what makes the hurdles such a hot race. Everybody's running fast so you have no choice."

Jearl Miles-Clark, 2nd, women's 400 meters: "I tried. This is my second race and I'm trying to get my rhythm back in the 400 so I'm happy. I'm focusing on the 400 meters this year because it's Grand Prix. I'm trying to drop my time. I'm feeling quite good."

David Krummenacker, winner, men's 1,000 meters: "I think I surprised myself. This was a loaded field today, so I just said let's get out there and mix it up with these guys. Middle-distance running in this country needs to be brought up like when Johnny Gray and Rich Kenah had it maybe 10 years ago or so. We have a young group of guys who are beginning to step it up and we're all right there on the cusp of doing something wonderful. I spoke to some of these Kenyans after the race and they said 'you Americans are tough,' and it's good to hear that again."

Marla Runyan, runner-up, women's 5,000m: "I knew she was coming (winner Tirunesh Dibaba) and this is my first race of the season and it hurt a bit more than I would've wanted it to. It was not a comfortable race for me at all and it shows me where my fitness is right not. It's good to get this one out of the way. I'm a little disappointed. I was hoping I'd do a little better."

Bryan Berryhill, runner-up, men's mile: "Late in the race it was one of those things where two guys passed me and it's like you gotta get out now. But I didn't really want to go and grab the lead quite that early. I'm a pretty aggressive runner by nature and sometimes I take the lead too early like I did today. But I'd rather be too early and be aggressive than not be aggressive enough."

Mary Sauer, winner, Visa women's pole vault: "I had a pretty rough warm-up and I was coming in kind of low, lower than I have all year. But today is going to help me to get things ironed out for the higher heights. I felt pretty good on the runway for the first time all year. I've moved back a stride and I'm hoping it will help me out the rest of this season."

Nicole Teter, winner, SoBe women's 800m: "I went out as hard as I could to see what I could hold on to. I wanted to go out hard and push the pace and then see what I had left at the end. I got tired down the homestretch but it was okay. The last 100 meters I just wanted to bring it home."

Matt Hemingway, winner, men's high jump: "It's coming back to me slowly. It's been a couple years now since I competed because I had to go back to the working force and a couple other things happened. I'm happy with my training for this early in the year. I'm just continuing to train hard and I'm expecting much more from myself."

Tim Broe, 3rd men's 3,000m steeplechase: "With about 600 to 800 meters to go, I just couldn't maintain it. I wanted to go for it (American record). I didn't have any delusions of grandeur that I was going to do it my first race out. It was setup perfectly for me to do it, but it just didn't happen. I'm getting close and for my first race out I can't complain."

Coby Miller, winner, men's 100 meters: "These guys I ran against today are great, and for me to win today says a lot about the season I have ahead of me. I'm hoping to go under 9.7. It's fun because a lot of people didn't expect me to come back after breaking my leg at the 2001 Indoor Championships, but this says a lot for me to overcome that. I believe in myself and I came into this race confident in myself, and I came out the winner today."

USATF's Outdoor Golden Spike Tour continues May 26 with the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, followed by the June 8 Oracle U.S. Open in Palo Alto, Calif. The final stop returns the Tour to Stanford for the 2002 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, June 21-23.