University of North Carolina Athletics
Marion Jones Injured At World Championships
August 25, 1999 | Track & Field
Aug. 25, 1999
By Bert Rosenthal
The Associated Press
SEVILLE, Spain -- Marion Jones' bid for a sprint double ended in agony today when she pulled up with a back injury during the semifinals of the 200 meters at the World Championships.
Jones, who won the 100 meters on Sunday, clutched her lower back about 50 meters from the finish and fell to the track. She was carried off on a stretcher.
Jones' husband, shot put champion C.J. Hunter, rushed down from the stands and walked beside the stretcher as it was wheeled to the medical station inside the stadium, where she was being attended to by two doctors.
USA Track and Field spokesman Jennifer Tilden said Jones had suffered back spasms and cramps.
Jones walked slowly out of the medical station after 2 hours, 10 minutes of treatment. She did not speak to reporters.
Meanwhile, Colin Jackson won Britain's first gold medal at a global championship in four years by capturing the men's 110-meter hurdles.
Jackson, the world record-holder and 1993 world champion, dipped across the line in 13.04 seconds, ahead of Cuba's Anier Garcia in 13.07 and American Duane Ross in 13.12.
It was the first gold for Britain since Jonathan Edwards' triumph in the triple jump at the 1995 worlds in Goteborg, Sweden.
The hurdles field had been weakened with the earlier injury withdrawal of two-time defending champion Allen Johnson, the false-start disqualification of U.S. champion Mark Crear and the absence of Larry Wade and Tony Jarrett.
Tomas Dvorak of the Czech Republic retained his title in the decathlon with a total of 8,744 points, well off the world record of 8,994 he set earlier this year.
ritain's Dean Macey took the silver with a strong showing in the final 1,500 meters, finishing with 8,556 points. Chris Huffins, the U.S. and Pan American Games Champion, was third with 8,547.
In a major upset, Germany's Charles Michael Friedek came from behind to take the gold in the men's triple jump with a season's best leap of 57-8 1/2. Bulgaria's Rotislav Dimitrov, who had led most of the way with a jump of 57-4 3/4, settled for the silver.
There was an extremely tight finish in the women's 400-meter hurdles final. Cuba's Daimi Pernia edged defending champion Nezha Bidouane of Morocco at the line to take the gold in 52.89 seconds, the best time in the world this year and sixth fastest of all time.
idouane was clocked in 52.90, an African record and just 0.01 behind. Jamaica's Deon Hemmings took the bronze in 53.16.
``I thought I was losing the medal,'' Pernia said of her stumble over the last hurdle. ``But I gathered strength and finished strong. It was so tight, I didn't know whether to celebrate or not.''
In the women's shot put, German Olympic champion Astrid Kumbernuss -- who missed last season after having a baby -- won her third straight world title with a season's best throw of 65-1 1/2.
In the men's 400 hurdles, defending champion Stephane Diagana of France (48.18) and Joey Woody of the United States (48.55) won their semifinals. Zambia's Samuel Matete, the 1991 world champion and '96 Olympic silver medalist, finished sixth in his semifinal (49.28) and failed to qualify.
Jones was trailing badly as the runners headed into the straight. Grimacing in pain, she slowed down, grasped her back and eased to the ground.
Jones was the heavy favorite in the event in her bid for a 100-200 double. She was also due to run in one of the relays. Her bid for an unprecedented four gold medals evaporated Monday when she settled for the bronze in the long jump.
Jones has said she will attempt to win five gold medals at next year's Sydney Olympics.
Meanwhile, Maurice Greene, the men's 100 champion bidding for the sprint double, won his semifinal heat in 20.10 seconds. He ran a controlled race, easing up slightly in the final five meters.
ut the big surprise came in the second semifinal, where Nigeria's Francis Obikwelu clocked a sparkling 19.84 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year. Obikwelu held his head in disbelief when he saw the time on the scoreboard.
Frankie Fredericks of Namibia, the former 200 champion and one of the favorites, finished only fourth in his semifinal in 20.10 seconds but still qualified for Friday's final.
In the women's 200, American Inger Miller -- silver medalist in the 100 -- comfortably won her semifinal in 22.17 seconds. With Jones out, she will now be the favorite for the 200 gold.
The other semifinal was won by Jamaica's Merlene Frazer in 22.18 seconds.
Sweden's Ludmila Engquist, competing in between chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer, had the fastest time in the first-round heats of the women's 100-meter hurdles.
The 35-year-old Engquist, the defending world champion and 1996 Olympic gold medalist, skimmed over the hurdles in 12.62 seconds and advanced to Thursday's quarterfinals.
``I am very realistic. I will try, but I don't think I can win. I would like to be on the podium.''
She was diagnosed with cancer in late March and had surgery to remove her right breast on her birthday, April 21. Since then, she has made a stunning and inspiring comeback. Her long-term goal is to repeat as Olympic champion next year.
She has continued to train through four chemotherapy sessions and has two more remaining.
A lightly regarded Russian -- German Skurygin -- won the 50-kilometer race walk, covering the 31-miles under a broiling sun in 3:44:23 -- more than three minutes ahead of runner-up Ivano Brugnetti of Italy.
