Marion Jones warmed up for her first appearance in Britain at Crystal Palace on Saturday when she remained on course for a share of the $1 million Golden League jackpot, awarded to any athlete who remains unbeaten throughout the seven-meeting series.
The American looked unusually unconvincing as she won the 200 metres in 22.16 seconds, holding off Inger Miller by only 0.1 sec.
Jones seems certain to repeat her IAAF Golden League success of last year and the only doubt in Seville would seem to lie in the long jump, where she will have to contend with the seasoned German star in that discipline, Heike Drechsler.
Happier with his performance will be Denmark's Wilson Kipketer, who also remains undefeated after winning the 800 metres in 1:42.57, the fastest time in the world this year.
"I am happy every time I go under 1:44," said Kipketer. "The crowd have been great and it's good to be able to give something back by performing well. I knew I was in shape, but I wasn't looking for a world best performance, I just came on the track to do my best."
Two other athletes, Gabriela Szabo of Romainia and Bernard Barmasai of Kenya, also remain on target for the seven-meet prize. Szabo won the 3,000 metres from Portugal's Carla Sacremento while Barmasai had almost 12 seconds in hand over his nearest rival in the 3,000 metres steeplechase, fellow Kenyan Chistopher Koskei.
Despite her apparent domination of her event, Szabo expressed reservations when asked whether she felt confident about victory in the IAAF Golden League. "Three more competitions of this event is difficult for me. I think it is more difficult for me than someone in the 100 metres."
Maurice Greene once again showed his superb form as he set the third meeting record of the evening in a closely fought 200. The world record holder in the 100 dipped across the line just one hundredth of a second ahead of Frank Fredericks of Namibia to win the event in 19.92 seconds. Obadele Thompson of Barbados took third place in 20.11.
"It's never easy to run against Frankie and the other guys, so it feels good to win," said Greene afterwards. "Besides it's my first time under 20 seconds this year, so I'm glad. Next is London and then I'm going to Seville to win the 100m and the 200m."
Mozambican power-house Maria Mutola had the advantage in the women's 800 in her ongoing battle with Russia's Svetlana Masterkova. Mutola crossed the line in 1:56.99 after leading the race from the halfway mark. Masterkova kicked out into the final bend, but was overtaken by Ludmilla Formanova, who crossed the line in second place, one and a half seconds behind Mutola (1:57.49). Masterkova had to settle for third place in 1:57.58.
The pole-vaulter Sergei Bubka, the only man to have won all six previous world championship titles, was expected to make his season's debut in Monaco but withdrew because he has still not recovered from a leg injury.
Nevertheless he has been selected by Ukraine to attempt a seventh world title this month. "I will compete only if I'm 100 per cent fit," he said. "I am confident everything will be okay. But my main aim is to win the Olympic title in Sydney next year."
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