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News26 Jul 1999


Johnson wins ahead of World Championships

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Agency Reports

26 July 1999 – Linz, Austria - Michael Johnson enjoyed a 200 metres success on Monday in his last race at this distance before his assault on the 400 world record at next month's world championships in Spain.

The American clocked 20.12 seconds at the Linz international meeting and said he was pleased with his showing. The world record holder over the distance, looked set to lose with 30m to go as fellow American Coby Miller drew alongside.But the 31-year-old Johnson won on the dip as he timed 20.12sec to Miller's 20.14.Tony McCall, another American, also looked a threat before fading into third in 20.42.

"Every race is tough. I never expected it to be easy," said the American "It was just speed work that I was doing today."

Marion Jones, the 100m world title holder, gave her specialist event a miss as she took part in the long jump.She had to make do with second, her best mark 5cm short of German Heike Drechsler's winning leap of 6.83m.

Drechsler cleared 6.83 metres while Jones, chasing four golds in Seville, managed 6.78 for second place.

"She (Jones) is a rival like all the others. She is missing experience. She could do better once she gets more experience and stability," Drechsler said.

South African star Marius Corbett, who exploded onto the javelin scene to win the 1997 world title in Athens, was another champion to struggle.
He never featured in the first three as he failed to threaten the 80m mark.

Frenchman Stephane Diagana, like Corbett a reigning world champion and hoping to put a disastrous injury-plagued 1998 behind him, was also defeated in the 400m hurdles. American number one Angelo Taylor caught him with 50m to go and powered past as Diagana tied up, timing 49.03 to Taylor's 48.74.

Britain's former world champion Colin Jackson won the 110 metres hurdles in 13.13 ahead of American Duane Ross (13.15) and Jonathan Nsenga of Belgium (13.35), but was not pleased with his showing.

"I was happy with my win but not with the run," said Jackson.

American Dennis Mitchell clocked 10.02 ahead of Obadele Thompson of Barbados and Miller in the 100 metres. Thompson clocked 10.12 and Miller 10.17

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