Men 60 m final

After a superb race, Maurice Greene won the best 60m final
in the history of these championships in 6.42 - a championship record. Greene had a great
start and pick-up but was chased right to the line by his countryman Harden and
Britain&#146;s Jason Henderson. In a blanket finish, Greene had 100th of a
second to spare over Harden with Henderson clocking 6.46, breaking Linford Christie&#146;s
European record. Australia&#146;s Matt Shirvington, probably the least experienced indoor
sprinter in the field, set his second Oceanian record of the day to finish fourth in 6.52.

The race call in real audio


Gold Medallist - GREENE Maurice (USA) 
&quot;It was a tough race. I did not see Harden as I ran, but I knew he would be
there. He is a tough competitor and getting better and better. He beat me in US Champs so
he is not a joke. Anyone who is into this wants to be NO.1, otherwise you wouldn't be
doing this. 
The three rounds are not a lot of work, but it is mentally hard. The false starts (in
heats) scared me a little, I didn't want to be ruled out. I just had to relax and stay
calm. 
I can't think of the final as something special, I have to concentrate the same way every
time. You might run faster, but the preparation you have to do the same way as
always.&quot;


Silver Medallist - HARDEN Tim (USA) 
&quot;Well I can't really complain. I ran 6.43 which is a personal best, you can only
ask so much. With Maurice (Greene) you cannot play games. Just one step, and he's gone.
It's my first such meet, so I guess it's a good start. Hopefully next time I can do one
better.&quot;


Bronze Medallist - GARDENER Jason (GBR) 
&quot;I fell out of my blocks. Ever since the semi-final I knew I have a great chance
for a medal. The European record is fantastic. I told everyone at AAA Champs that if I
could run in the low 6.50's that I would come to Japan. 
Today I got up from the blocks too quickly, if I had stayed lower for longer, I would have
been faster. I honestly thought as I left the blocks that's my chance gone.&quot;

event report men 60m final

Men 60m final

Fredericks
and Jackson announce retirement plans 
Steven Downes reports for the IAAF 
MAEBASHI, Japan (March 7)JUST AS Colin Jackson did on Friday, Frank Fredericks,
another thirty-something sprinter with something to prove, added a golden hue to the
autumn of his career here on Saturday by producing the second fastest 200 metres ever seen
indoors and so taking the world title.

Thus ended a frustrating sequence of eight silver medals at Olympic Games and World
Championships which had seen Fredericks labelled the nearly man of international track.
Truth is, of course, that Fredericks is one of the finest sprinters ever to measure out a
set of starting blocks, but he has had as his misfortune to have been competing at the
same time as a crop of other outstanding sprinters, from Carl Lewis and Linford Christie
to Michael Johnson.

Here, Fredericks had that little
bit of luck that had previously eluded his quest for gold medals. Drawn in the sixth,
outside lane on the sweeping curves of the Maebashi Green Dome's indoor track, Fredericks
produced another awesome sprinting display, and no one could catch him.

Indeed, as Fredericks came off the final bend it appeared that the staggered start had
perhaps not worked. Obadele Thompson, the Barbadian drawn in lane five, having chased
after Fredericks for 170 metres, was no closer to his rival than when the starter's gun
had fired. Once Fredericks stopped the automatic clock at 20.10sec, it was clear how the
Namibian had created this optical illusion: no one has ever run faster before apart from
Fredericks himself, three years ago, on the notoriously speedy track at Lievin when he set
the world indoor best at 19.92.

Thompson crossed the line in 20.26sec to go third on the all-time list, but only took
Fredericks's usual place on the medal podium.

&quot;I got what I came here for, the gold medal,&quot; Fredericks said. &quot;I plan
to retire soon, and I want to collect as many titles as possible.&quot; Coupled with his
sense of achievement, though, will have been a sense of relief.

It is an emotion which Colin Jackson
knows well. It is nearly six years since an awesome day in Stuttgart when the two
sprinters both claimed gold medals within a short period at the IAAF's fourth outdoor
World Championships, Fredericks winning at 200, Jackson with a world record at 110 metres
hurdles which still stands today.

Both men have been such fixtures in top-class international athletics for so long -
Jackson got his first international championship medal 14 years ago - it seems odd to
contemplate the sport without them. But asked how he intends to approach the Sydney
Olympics next year, Fredericks said, &quot;I have no plans beyond this year. I am only
thinking about Seville&quot;, and the IAAF World Championships.

Jackson is clear he will retire after next year's Olympics, regardless of whether he
wins the only major honour still to elude him, now that he has won the world indoor title
following three silver medals.

&quot;I've been running in the top flight since I was 19,&quot; Jackson said. &quot;To
carry on into your 30s is a long, long time. It's hard, hard on your mind and your
body.&quot; Five operations (&quot;You can't imagine how painful my knees were
sometimes&quot;) and the demands of his event had left his body creaking on the morning
after his race, prior to a weight training session. Champions rarely get to rest.

&quot;Athletics has given me a great life, and it's given me the opportunity to fulfil
my dreams, but I think you need to get to the pinnacle of your career, and then move on to
something completely different.&quot; Jackson still harbours ambitions, but now they lie
in the direction of screenplays (he has a script in development) and film production.
&quot;Sport itself is part of the entertainment industry. I want to stay in the same
field, but go in a different direction.&quot; He has given his backing to a new project,
'Minimum', &quot;a sort of Trainspotting based in Cardiff&quot;, according to Jackson,
which began filming last month.

Today, Jackson flies to America, for a week's holiday where Britain's newest world
champion will meet up with its defending heavyweight boxing world champion, Lennox Lewis,
an old friend, ahead of next Saturday's title unifier against Evander Holyfield.

Jackson first met Lewis at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. &quot;I was there
when he got in a fight with BJ,&quot; he says, referring to Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson,
before his Seoul disgrace. &quot;BJ, having the ego of a sprinter, was having a go, and
Lennox just said to him, 'What's it all about, I could break you in three pieces if I
wanted'.&quot;

As Jackson showed when beating Reggie Torian on Friday, like boxing, sprint hurdling is
often a one-on-one battle. It may not be quite as bruising, but it is one where no quarter
can be given. Will Lewis win next week? &quot;He's got to,&quot; said Jackson, with the
air of a champion who has also tasted defeat.

Frank Fredericks and Colin Jackson announce their retirement plans

Fredericks, Jackson discuss retirement plans

Men&#146;s long jump

After Ivan Pedroso flew through the air to land at 8.46, it
looked as if he had killed the contest stone dead with the very first jump of the
competition. But no-one could have forseen just how thrilling the event would become ...
and that Spain&#146;s Yago Lamela would not only put together a splendid series of 8.10,
8.29, 8.42, 8.26 but almost win with his last effort of 8.56 - a European indoor record.
The 21 year-old Asturian could hardly believe his eyes after his final leap. But he had
not reckoned with the phenomenal competitive spirit of Pedroso. Having gone for the world
record in his previous attempts the Cuban had not improved and now had just one jump left.
With a look of intense concentration, he steadied himself before sprinting flat out,
hitting the board perfectly and soaring high into the air. As he landed, it was clear that
he had come close to Lamela&#146;s best. Then the mark came up - 8.62 - and the stadium
erupted into cheers and applause. With a championship record the Cuban missile had
achieved his target again. It was athletics at its most intense and memorable. The bronze
medal went to Erick Walder of the USA (8.30) and the first seven were all over 8 metres.


Gold Medallist - PEDROSO Ivan (CUB) 
&quot;I had too many foul jumps but luckily a couple of good ones too. I felt very
strong and I had all the self-confidence to win. I knew that if I got the last one (change
over) clean I could make that the big one. 
I have been jumping over 850 so many times I knew I could make it.&quot;


Silver Medallist - LAMELA Yago (ESP) 
&quot;I was not expecting to do so well, but now I guess I will just go with it. Above
all I would like to thank my coach and my family because they were essential in me
achieving this result. 
This is only a start and I hope to continue my path in Seville where competition will be
even tougher. I came here looking for the Spanish record, but 850 was a surprise and an
unexpected bonus.&quot;


Bronze Medallist - WALDER Erick (USA) 
&quot;I had some problems with my approach and I was not hitting the board well. Also
I was leaning back more than I should have so that hindered my performance. I sort of got
myself together for the last jump but that was too late already. Overall I guess it was
not too bad.&quot;

7 March event report men long jump final

Men long jump final

Women 4x400

As they did in Paris two years ago, Russia&#146;s 4x400
women broke the world indoor record to take victory in 3:24.25. As well as their gold
medals, the athletes will earn a total of $110,000 - representing the IAAF Competition
award and the $50,000 bonus offered by Mita, one of the IAAF&#146;s official sponsors.
Russia were well clear of the opposition for most of the race with Australia surprising
both the USA and Germany to finish second in 3:26.87.1997 outdoor world champion Cathy
Freeman was the anchor runner for Australia but she had been given a significant lead by
her team mates Susan Andrews, Tanya VanHeer and Tamsyn Lewis. The USA finished in 3.27.59.
Neither individual 400m winner Grit Breuer nor third placed Jearl Miles Clark ran in the
relay.


Gold Medallist - RUSSIA 
Natalya Nazarova (anchor leg): &quot;I knew we were running fast but I didn't know it
was that fast. The whole race was actually a lot easier than I thought. I saw the
situation all the time from the big TV screen, so it was quite easy for me to run.&quot;


Silver Medallist - AUSTRALIA 
Cathy Freeman: &quot;I am on the come back trail. There were many times when I didn't
think that I would have ever get back into competition. That's the problem, it's all in my
mind, if you leave this type of arena for too long, it's difficult to return. 
I am so excited, I'm back! I had the support of my team mates and so the relay was the
perfect opportunity to convince myself I still had it (competitive ability). I am just
glad to be part of the international scene again!&quot;


Bronze Medallist - UNITED STATES 
PORTER, Anchor leg speaking for the team: &quot;Zundra (Feagin-Alexander) ran really
well and I'm honored to be part of this team. We had four determined, strong women. Look
out for us in the future, there is more to come. We have a very young team and we put it
together when it counted!&quot;

7 March event report women 400m relay (4x400)

Women 4x400m relay

After false starting, world record holder Maurice Greene, left nothing to chance in his
heat of the 60m. As the gun fired he lingered in the blocks &#150; allowing his rivals to
steal an immediate advantage &#150; but coolly closed the gap, crossing the line together
with Giorgios Theodoridis in 6.56 &#150; a personal best for the Greek. Most impressive of
the qualifiers was Greene&#146;s teammate Tim Harden. Quickly into his running, Harden
pulled away from the field before easing up completely five metres from the line.
Jamaica&#146;s Donovan Powell caught the American at the line with both men timed at 6.51.
Australia&#146;s young hope &#150; Matt Shirvington &#150; took the first heat, marred by
four false starts, in an Oceania record of 6.52, with Britain&#146;s Jason Gardner just
behind. The closest race came in heat 6, with former World Champion Bruny Surin, Ray
Stewart and Luis Alberto Perez Rionda, matching stride for stride throughout the race.
Stewart, who ran his first Olympic 100m final in 1984, got the verdict in 6.58. But the
others qualified for the semis as well, as did Nigeria&#146;s Deji Aliu (6.65) and
Japan&#146;s Koji Ito (6.68) from heat 3.

The race calls in real
audio

event report men 60m heats

Men 60m heats

Men&#146;s 1500m

Haile Gebrselassie completed the toughest part of his
mission this afternoon by winning an excellent 1500m race in a championship record
3:33.77. Pushed hard the whole race, first by Kenya&#146;s defending world champion
William Tanui and then by his countryman Laban Rotich, Gebrselassie had to dig deep,
especially in the last 300m, which he covered in 41.45. Tanui led the field through the
first 800m in 1:54.20 with Rotich taking over the lead at 1200 metres - perhaps as part of
a team tactic - reached in 2:52.58. From then on, it was a question of who woudl have the
best sprint, and Gebrselassie provided the answer. With Rotich hanging on for silver
(3:33.98) the bronze ended up going to Andres Diaz, who made up a tremendous amount of
ground in the final 50 metres straight to clock 3:34.46. Tanui set a personal best of
3:34.77 for fourth with Portugal&#146;s Rui Silva only fifth, despite a national record of
3:34.99.

The race call in Real Audio


Gold Medallist - GEBRSELASSIE Haile (ETH)

&quot;One gold medal in a championships is ordinary, I
wanted to get two gold and be a little different! (Laughing) 
Today in the 1500m I had a very close competition. I judged my finishing burst according
to the competitors around me at the time. Before any race I do my homework and in that way
I remained confident even after two long days of running prior to this 1500m final. 
The flight out to Japan made me very tired. Last night (Saturday) was the first night of
sleep that I have managed to gain.&quot;


Silver Medallist - ROTICH Laban (KEN) 
&quot;It was not actually a difficult race, but it was really too hot for me. Usually
we run these times with a forerunner(pace), but now we had to do all the work. I tried to
sprint but it was not enough today.&quot;


Bronze Medallist - DIAZ Andres (ESP) 
&quot;I came to the Championships with the best times, but unfortunately I was unable
to repeat it. Nevertheless I am satisfied with my result as this is my first indoor medal.
Haile is great. He is from another galaxy like Hicham (EL GUERROUJ) They are simply
unbeatable.&quot;

men 1500m final

Men 1500m final

Ekaterini Thanou won another top quality sprint, surging past this season&rsquo;s star best performer Gail Devers to give Greece a surprise victory.
Devers had the best start but Thanou was not far behind and turned on the turbo at the 50 metre point, moving clear before stopping the clock at 6.96. It was her second sub 7 second run of the day.
Devers finished in 7.02 with her countrywoman Inger Miller outdipping Philomina Mensah for bronze (and $10,000) by just 1 100th - 7.06 to 7.07.
&nbsp;
Note: In October 2001, it was disclosed that Miller had failed a doping control test for caffeine in Maebashi. The sanction for this offence was disqualification and a public warning, so Mensah was promoted to the bronze medal position. The delay in announcing the result was due to lengthy hearings and appeal procedures.
&nbsp;
Flash quotes:
Gold Medallist - THANOU Ekaterini (GRE) "Before the final I told myself that I can win the race, all I have to do is run fast (smiling). I was expecting to run under 7 seconds but not by that much. The track was amazing, it is really really fast, and I seem to have made good use of it."
Silver Medallist - DEVERS Gail (USA) "I am glad to be back, what the future will bring now we will just have to see! It has been a long time to get back from injury, there is always the possibility that you are out of the competitive environment for too long. As to my present physical condition I still have some problems with my hamstring and that is a sign to shut everything down and get some rest. In the summer I will try both the 100 and 100 hurdles at Seville."
Bronze Medallist - MILLER Inger (USA) "I cannot be anything but excited. This is my first indoor season. It is sort of like job training for me working on so many different things, and finally I am starting to feel it. That is why I think I am running so well here. I cannot wait to call my Dad, I am so excited."

event report women 60m final

1999 World Indoor Championships women's 60m final

Men 60m semi final

Maurice Greene and Tim Harden confirmed their status as
favourites after winning their respective semi-finals in 6.45 and 6.47. Also impressive
was Britain&#146;s Jason Gardener, who took the third heat in 6.49 - a personal best.

7 march 1999 event report men 60m semi finals

Men 60m semi finals

Men
400 final

2 years after winning silver in Paris, Britain&#146;s Jamie Baulch won gold with a
masterful display of indoor running in Maebashi. Stopping the clock at 45.73, Baulch had
taken the race by the scruff of the neck, his pattering stride and determination putting
him in pole position after 200m &#150; reached in a scorching 21.13. After that he refused
to give up the inside lane, and held on powerfully for the final lap. Behind him, there
was a terrific battle for the minor medals with Milton Campbell, Alejandro Cardenas and
Troy McIntosh all in the frame. Just 6 100ths of a second separated them at the finish
with McIntosh losing out on a medal despite setting a national record.


Gold Medallist - BAULCH Jamie (GBR) 
&quot;I got to the bell first which is crucial indoors. If you do not dominate the
race by that point your chance of success is very limited. 
I have now developed a better tactical awareness for running on these relatively tight
indoor curves. This has been the main difference between my run for silver in Paris and
gold here today. 
Obviously I am pleased and this promises much for the summer and Seville.&quot;


Silver Medallist - CAMPBELL Milton (USA) 
&quot;Just before the bell Jamie (BAULCH) seemed to come out of nowhere. That was the
decisive moment of the race. Of course I am pleased in such a tight race to have come away
with a medal, it is just a pity it is not the gold.&quot;


Bronze Medallist - CARDENAS Alejandro (MEX) 
&quot;This is the first medal for Mexico. So it means a lot both to me and to Mexico.
At the moment there are many problems in Mexico, so maybe this medal will be an
inspiration to people. My dive at the line was spontaneous, but very helpful (smiling).
Three weeks ago I had to stop training for a few days because of an old knee injury, but
it feels good now. In fact everything feels good now. In the future I would like to be in
the final in Seville, and maybe win the another medal for my country&quot;

7 March report from men 400 m final

Men 400m final

Men
800m final

This was a thrilling race, with Germany&#146;s Nico
Motchebon taking the early initiative but losing out first to Johan Botha and then, in the
last few strides, to world record holder Wilson Kipketer. Botha became the first South
African man to win a world indoor title but it was a close thing - he crossed the line in
1:45.47 just two 100ths of a second ahead of Kipketer, with Motchebon fading to third in
1:45.74. Kipketer had paid the price for hesitancy, his late surge coming too late to
ensure he retained his title.

The race call in Real Audio


Gold Medallist - BOTHA Johan (RSA) 
&quot;I have been winning all my races this year, so maybe I should have been the
favorite. But now that I won it, it does not matter any more. It is my first indoor season
ever, but now I will return home and run outdoors again. It has been hard work, so I will
go and cry now.&quot;


Silver Medallist - KIPKETER Wilson (DEN) 
&quot;I'm now sure of what I am doing. I have confirmed to myself today that my
training is on course. Now my mind and body are back as one and I can have the confidence
to progress to the summer and greater goals in Seville. This race was so close today, it
could have gone any way. 
I am back!!!!&quot;


Bronze Medallist - MOTCHEBON Nico (GER) 
&quot;Both Botha and I expected Wilson to take the lead but when he didn't I decided
to pick the pace up. I knew I would lose the gold medal but I think that move saved me a
medal altogether. I was originally planning to do to them what they did to me in the end!
The 800m is very tactical and if the pace is very slow anything could happen. I didn't
want to risk that.&quot;

event report men 800m final

Men 800m final

World indoor record holder Ashia Hansen confirmed her
supremacy in this event by winning gold with her first hop step and jump. The Briton
adapted better than her rivals to the bouncy runway and, after three controlled movements,
soared out to 15.02 - the world leading mark this season. Hansen then had three fouls ...
one a very near miss that looked like an improvement on her opener and did not improve
with her last two valid efforts. Sarka Kasparkova was in second position with 14.87 until
the last round when Bulgaria&#146;s Iva Prandzheva achieved 14.94 to overtake her. Both
marks were national records.


Gold Medallist - HANSEN Ashia (GBR) 
&quot;Obviously ater coming back with the silver medal in Paris I am quite satisfied
but in some ways I am disappointed. I hoped to jump so much better today and believed that
I would beat my world record. Obviously this was not meant to be! 
Yeah, I watched Jamie's (BAULCH) race, I know I should have been concentrating on my own
performance. When Colin Jackson got the gold I said to myself if he can do it, so can I!
What more inspiration can you need than that. 
My disappearance from the competition? Simply, a toilet break. I was bursting to go!
(Smiling)&quot;


Silver Medallist - PRANDZHEVA Iva (BUL) 
&quot;This is my second indoor silver after 1995, but I am still content with my
performance. Hopefully in Seville I will be able to double in the long jump and triple
jump. Yesterday after the finish of the long jump my hamstring was hurting, but luckly it
did not hinder my performance too much.&quot;


Bronze Medallist - KASPARKOVA Sarka (CZE) 
&quot;I had three good jumps, unfortunately the third was a foul. With my first
attempt I jumped about 20 centimeters behind the board, I think it might have been a 15.05
jump. 
Coming here, I knew there was three of us who could have won. It depends on a day who will
win. 
I am not competing until Grand Prix circuit.&quot;

7 March event report women triple jump final

Women triple jump final

Women&#146;s 400 m Final

Germany&#146;s 1998 European outdoor and indoor champion, gained a global title here in
Maebashi after winning the 400m in 50.80 &#150; a world leading mark. After an even start,
Breuer raced into the lead around the first bend and was still in the lead at the crucial
half way point (23.59), when the athletes break from lines. At this point, defending
champion Jearl Miles-Clark was jostled by Falilat Ogunkoya and Mexico&#146;s Ana Guevara,
and ended up way out of contention. With Breuer clear and running effortlessly, the battle
was on for the minor medals. Ogunkoya held on best for silver as Jearl-Miles fought past
Guevara for third in the last two strides.


Gold Medallist - BREUER Grit (GER) 
&quot;I thought the race would have been a lot more difficult. It was my prerace
tactics to run a very fast first lap and then ease up a little bit and hit the last 50
meters as fast as I can. 
I had a terrible time adjusting to the time difference here in Japan. The first 2-3 nights
I hardly slept at all. My first training here was a catastrophy. 
This is quite promising for the summer season. I hope to be in the final in Seville and
then get a medal, but this event is a new game everytime.&quot;


Silver Medallist - OGUNKOYA Falilat (NGR) 
&quot;At the end of the first lap, Ana(Guevara-MEX) was pushing me around a little, I
lost some time with that. This my first indoor championships, and I got a medal. Yesterday
I didn't run so fast, so I thought I ccould win today, but Grit (Breuer-GER) ran great. I
want to give my medal to my son, because he has to go through many hard things too.&quot;


Bronze Medallist - MILES-CLARK Jearl (USA) 
&quot;I didn't get to the break first. The field got away from me and the pace was
unexpectedly quick, so I had to play catch up throughout the race. 
The semi-final yesterday took nothing out of me. I felt fine as I got onto the track
today. Positioning is everything for indoor running, that was my only error.&quot;

WORLD ATHLETICS INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

World Record Relays ratified by the IAAF

The Record Relays

Men 400m final

1999 World Indoor Championships women's 60m final

Men 400m relay photo finish splits