Notebook

Jones' season seemingly over, Felicien predicts her time is to come

SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) -- Now, it truly looks as if Marion Jones will never run this season.

Wilfried Meert wanted to lure Jones to his Van Damme Golden League meet next week but, following a meeting with her agent Charlie Wells, he realized he and other meet organizers stood no chance.

"Jones won't run again this season. It is just too early for her to resume" after giving birth to a son on June 28, said Meert.

Meert was not the only one seeking her services.

Just on Tuesday, the Moscow Challenge said it was as good as certain to have Jones over for its Sept. 20 invitational, especially since her partner Tim Montgomery is already committed to race in the US$ 1million sprint there. While the men's winner will take US$500,000, Jones would be running for a winner's prize of a mere US$75,000.

Meert, for his part, was even willing to let her run in the B series of the Van Damme, so not to pressure her too much, but Jones's publicist was unmoved.

"Her plans are not to compete until 2004 and that has not changed," said Lewis Kay, Jones' publicist.

Next year in Athens, Jones has to defend three Olympic titles, in the 100, 200 and 4x400 relay.

Oh, Canada!

 Perdita Felicien became the first Canadian woman to win a medal at the World Championships when she took gold in the 100-meter hurdles Wednesday in 12.53 seconds.

The winner of the last two NCAA titles in the event for Illinois, Felicien had predicted victory after Tuesday's semifinals.

"It just comes from having self-confidence," she said. "I'm not scared of these girls anymore. Hopefully they're going to be scared of me and going to pay some attention to me now."

Felicien, from Oshawa, Ontario, turns 23 on Friday, so this could be just the beginning of a great career. She had predicted victory the previous day.

"I hope it's the Perdita era," she said. "I hope it's a career that has longevity and has a lot more gold medals to go with it."

Best not good enough

 Poland's Robert Korzeniowski proved he is one all-time greats in race walking Wednesday, winning his third 50-kilometer title at the World Championships in a world best time.

He still had a demand though : show me the money.

Just like Jefferson Perez in the 20 kilometers, he will miss out on the US$100,000 bonus for world records because the IAAF world track & field federation still calls walks records "world best performances."

"It is an injustice," he said. Asked whether he would appeal the situation, he added "I have to talk with Jefferson Perez and get some ideas," he said.

After his win on Saturday, Perez seemed more resigned with his fate, happy to walk away with just the US$60,000 prize going to every gold medalist.

The IAAF decided at its Congress last week that it will upgrade the walk performances to record status only on Jan. 1 next year. "I can wait for my bonus until January," Korzeniowski said, only half in jest.

Once is enough

Britain's Kelly Holmes, who won the silver medal in the 800 meters at the World Championships, failed to show up for her heat in the 1,500 on Wednesday.

Originally, Holmes had opted to run the 1,500 but changed her mind and gave Britain its only silver so far.

"I came into these championships not knowing which event to do," said Holmes. "My training has been limited. After doing the 800 my coach didn't want me to do the 1,500 as well," the 33-year old said.

So she decided to skip the chance for a double medal performance.

Winners and losers

With the World Championships into its second half, Russia is leading the medals count with four golds and eight overall.

The United States is second with three golds and seven total. Having been shut out in the men's 100 sprint, the Americans are below their expectations.

Belarus, thanks to its strong competitors in throwing events, also has three golds and seven overall.

What about Britain and Germany, two traditional track & field nations?

They still have to win a gold, which puts them behind Ecuador, Lithuania, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Poland, Qatar, St. Kitts and Nevis, and South Africa, in that category.

Both Britain and Germany only have one silver and one bronze apiece. rac-ns