By Andrea Adelson
NEW YORK, 3 June - Marion Jones easily won the 100 metres at the New York Grand Prix today, crossing the line in 11.06 seconds to raucous cheers.
The former Olympian beat a strong field that included world champion Lauryn Williams, top Jamaican Veronica Campbell and 2003 world champ Torri Edwards. When Jones took her place in the blocks on a cool and breezy night, the crowd cheered her.
After a false start sent the runners back to the blocks, Jones took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She got off to a good start, but was way ahead by 60 metres, winning her third meet of the year since she started her comeback following an 11-month absence .
Overall I felt pretty good,'' Jones said. The conditions weren’t great, but any time you get a victory it’s another step.’’
After her race, she waved and smiled to the crowd as she did a post-race interview.
Campbell was second in 11.11. Williams was a disappointing fifth, finishing in 11.44.
Jones said she will run a 200-metre race in Europe before running in the 100 and 200 at the US nationals in Indianapolis later this month.
In the men’s 100, co-world record holder Justin Gatlin also won easily, clocking 9.87 in the final sprint event of the evening. American Tyson Gay was second in 10.04.
But all eyes were on the 30-year-old Jones in her first race in the United States in more than a year. Her time matched her fast mark of the year, which she first ran in her opening meet in Mexico last month.
Jones has had a tumultuous journey over the last few years. After winning five medals, including three gold, in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Jones took 2003 off to have her son.
Things haven’t quite been the same since then.
She was shut out of medals at the 2004 Athens Games, failing to make the team in the 100. She attempted to qualify for the US world championships team in 2005, but walked off the track before the 100 preliminaries with a hip injury.
Williams, who has been battling a respiratory infection since April, wasn’t surprised with the way Jones performed.
She won, right?'' Williams said. So she was excellent.’’