Olympic champion breezes to 100 title

Justin Gatlin of the United States once again proves he's the fastest man in the world.

HELSINKI, Finland -- Justin Gatlin swept his opposition in winning the 100 meters Sunday, adding the world championship title to his Olympic gold medal.

The overwhelming favorite didn't even have to dip for the line to finish in 9.88 seconds and enjoyed a 0.17-second margin over silver medalist Michael Frater of Jamaica, the largest victory in the 22-year history of the championships. Defending champion Kim Collins was third, also in 10.05.

"I had more left in the tank," said Gatlin, who recorded his best time this season.

In 1987, Carl Lewis beat Ray Stewart of Jamaica by .15 seconds.

Now, the American will go for the 200 title and the 400 relay to emulate the feat of Maurice Greene in 1999.

"My plan is going perfectly. The 200 is on my mind," Gatlin said. "Last year at the Olympics I was very high on my win in the 100, but this year I'm hungry for the 200 and relay. I want three gold medals."

Former Olympic champion Stacy Dragila had a far more trying day. The 34-year-old American, who won world titles in 1999 and 2001, could not clear 14 feet, 7 1/4 inches, following her disappointment in Athens with yet another miss. Dragila also failed to qualify for the Olympic final.

"Just had a rough day out there," Dragila said.

Olimpiada Ivanova set the first world record of the competition, capturing the 20-kilometer walk and wrapping herself in a Russian flag before crossing the line.

Olympic champion Carolina Kluft rallied despite a tender ankle to beat France's Eunice Barber in the heptathlon and retain her world titles.

The Swede, who strained her jumping ankle on the eve of the seven-event competition, capped a thrilling weekend by coming back on the final bend of the closing 800 and overtake Barber and clinch the title.

She fell and held her taped left ankle, savoring a famous victory. She won with a 6,887 points, followed by Barber with 6,824. Ghana's Margaret Simpson took the bronze.

"It was fantastic, absolutely fantastic," Kluft said.

Kluft lost badly in the first two events but overtook the 2001 champion on Sunday and crossed the finish line of the 800 to the cheers of the crowd at the 40,000-capcity Olympic Stadium.

Under the golden glow of the setting sun, and with the national flags hanging limp for the first time all day, Gatlin had ideal conditions for his run.

His dominance was such that he could coast over the final meters and finish 0.11 seconds slower than the world record of Asafa Powell. The absence of the injured Jamaican is the only question mark that will hang over Gatlin's performance.

Frater provided a big surprise for Jamaica by winning the silver. Collins, of St. Kitts and Nevis, had been struggling all season but again rose to the occasion in taking the bronze.

Powell said he won't run in the 400-meter relay for Jamaica because of his groin injury. He was at the stadium to watch the 100 and called Gatlin a "great champion."

Double Olympic and defending champion Virgilijus Alekna of Lithuania needed a championship-record throw of 230-2 in the discus on the last attempt to win. That bettered the mark of Estonia's Gerd Kanter by 5-3.

In another good showing by Jamaica, Trecia Smith won the triple jump with a leap of 49-7, beating Yargelis Savigne of Cuba and Anna Pyatykh of Russia.

Like the 100, the triple jump was affected by injury. Tatyana Lebedeva, the double defending champion, withdrew at the last minute because of an Achilles' tendon problem.

Ivanova dominated the walk from start to finish. She finished in 1 hour, 25 minutes, 41 seconds and beat the mark set two years ago by 41 seconds.

"I expected it. Everything went according to plan," said Ivanova, who will get $60,000 for the gold and $100,000 for the record.

Ivanova also won the world title in 2001 and the silver medal at the Athens Olympics.

Christine Arron and Chandra Sturrup easily qualified for Monday's semifinals in the women's 100, with Arron timed in 11.03 while running into a headwind. The Frenchwoman is still unbeaten in the Golden League this year, but Sturrup has the fastest time.

After a mediocre season, Olympic champion Yuliya Nesterenko is looking to peak in Helsinki. She qualified second in the same quarterfinal as Arron.