Richards stays alive in hunt for Golden League Jackpot

Richards stays alive in hunt for Golden League Jackpot

Wins by Sanya Richards, Jeremy Wariner, Anna Willard, Dawn Harper and Dexter Faulk highlighted American competition at the Meeting Areva in Paris, the fourth leg of the AF Golden League 2009.

2008 Olympic bronze medalist Sanya Richards remained on track to win a share of the $1 million Golden League jackpot Friday when she won the women's 400 meters in 49.34 seconds. Her nearest competitor, Novlene Williams Mills (JAM) was over one second back, finishing in 50.39. 2009 USA Outdoor runner-up Debbie Dunn set a personal best 50.66 with her fourth-place finish.

Two-time Olympic medalist and World Outdoor champion Jeremy Wariner coasted to victory in the men's 400m, running 45.28 on a cold, windy night in Paris. Beijing bronze medalist David Neville finished fourth in 45.49.

The former American record holder in the steeplechase, Anna Willard was running in fifth place with 100m to go in the women's 800, when she surged down the final straightaway to claim victory in a huge personal best 1:58.80. Two-time USA Outdoor 1,500m champion Shannon Rowbury was eighth in 2:00.94.

The American women went 1, 2, 3 in the 100m hurdles as reigning Olympic gold medalist Dawn Harper triumphed in 12.68. Two-time World Outdoor champion Michelle Perry was the runner-up in 12.75 and two-time USA Outdoor champion Ginnie Powell was third in 12.81. Lolo Jones, world-ranked #1 for 2008, finished fifth in 12.91. 2009 USA Indoor runner-up Dexter Faulk won the men's 110m hurdles in 13.14, with Aries Merritt finishing fourth in 13.42.

2007 double World Outdoor champion Bernard Lagat ran a strong race in the men's 3,000m, finishing as the runner-up to 2008 Olympic 5,000 and 10,000 champion Kenesia Bekele in a personal best 7:33.15. Chris Solinsky placed fourth in 7:37.72.

For more information and complete results from the Areva Meeting in Paris, visit www.iaaf.org.

Keith Conning: PB for Rowbury.