Jones, Greene, Webb, Cantwell and Waller impress at Home Depot Invitational

CARSON, Calif. - Two world-leading performances, some impressive wind-aided marks, a crowd of 11,255, and the return of a one-time phenom highlighted the Home Depot Invitational Saturday. The meet was the first invitational event on USA Track & Field's 2004 Outdoor Golden Spike Tour, and was broadcast live on NBC.

With a meet-record crown looking on, Christian Cantwell posted an impressive 2004 world-leader in the ADT men's shot put, while Tisha Waller did the same in the women's high jump. Though added by a brisk breeze, Maurice Greene tied the fastest time run under any conditions in the men's 100 meters, and Marion Jones was equally impressive winning the Verizon women's 100 and long jump.

The feel-good story of the day came from Alan Webb, the U.S. high school record holder in the mile, who got his first career win on the track in a major event, and picked up an Olympic "A" qualifying time, a U.S. leader, and the #2 time in the world in 2004 in the process.

Already with the two fastest wind-legal marks in the world, Greene - the three-time world champion and defending Olympic gold medalist - led from start to finish in the men's 100 meters. His wind-aided (+4.6) time of 9.86 ties the fastest 2004 time under any conditions, and put him well ahead of world outdoor 200m silver medalist Darvis Patton in second (9.96).

Jones posted a solid series in the long jump, emerging with a win with her best, wind-aided mark of 7.13m/23-4.75 (+4.5 mps), ahead of U.S. outdoor champion Grace Upshaw (6.83m/22-5.0; +2.6 mps). The three-time Olympic gold medalist, double Olympic bronze medalist, two-time world 100m champ and four-time U.S. 100m champion won convincingly in the 100 meters with her time of 10.99 seconds (+4.4 mps). Angela Daigle was second in 11.17.

Webb became an instant celebrity in 2001 when he broke Jim Ryun's high school record in the mile, with his time of 3:53.43. Yet he had never posted a win on the track in a major meet - until Saturday. Not only did he make a time trial out of the men's 1,500m, he also posted an Olympic "A" qualifying time, the fastest time in the U.S. in 2004, a personal best, and the #2 time in the world this year with his clocking of 3:35.71. The 2001 South Lakes High School (Reston, Va.) grad was the lone runner to follow the pace set by pacemaker Milton Browne. Coming through 400m in 58.6 seconds and 800m in 1:56.4, Webb led a field that included two-time U.S. outdoor champion Seneca Lassiter and two-time indoor champ Jason Lunn by nearly 20m. He didn't relent in the final lap, winning by more than 4.5 seconds over Olympic fifth-place finisher Kevin Sullivan of Canada (3:39.32).

Cantwell reinforced his status as the top thrower in the world with his 11th consecutive victory in the shot put. The Missouri grad achieved a remarkable feat by posting six throws over 70 feet, ranging from 21.45m/70-4.5, to his winning throw of 22.35m/73 feet, 4 inches - a new personal record for the 2004 world indoor gold medalist. He led a parade of the world's finest shot putters, followed by world indoor silver medalist Reese "The Unknown Shot Putter" Hoffa (21.67/71-1.25), three-time world champion John Godina (21.04/69-0.5) and 2000 Olympic silver medalist Adam Nelson (20.72/67-11.75).

Four-time U.S. champion Waller topped the women's high jump with a clearance of 1.98m/6-6 on her second attempt. Kaylene Wagner and Amy Acuff were second and third, both with clearances of 1.92/6-3.5.

The hurdles races provided returns to form to two U.S. athletes. Olympic bronze medalist Melissa Morrison bounced back from two frustrating years with a very impressive win over an even more impressive field in the women's 100m hurdles. Morrison ran 12.44 (+2.6) to prevail over three-time world champ Gail Devers (12.52); world outdoor bronze medalist Miesha McKelvy (12.62); and reigning world champion Perdita Felicien of Canada (12.70). Larry Wade, who was in a near-fatal car accident in 2000 and then broke his arm in 2003, won the Home Depot men's 110m hurdles in 13.12 seconds (+2.6), with Olympic silver medalist Terrence Trammell second in 13.20.

Hussein Al-Sabee of Saudi Arabia won the men's long jump with a mark of 8.41m (+2.6mps) of 8.41m/27-7.25. Reigning world indoor champion Savante Stringfellow did not post a mark after hurting his right Achilles tendon (not his take-off leg) on his first jump. An MRI was scheduled for Saturday; it appeared to be a strain of the tendon.

Winners in other events included: world indoor 3,000m bronze medalist Shayne Culpepper in the Chevrolet women's 1,500m (4:06.33); U.S. indoor champ Toby Stevenson in the Visa men's pole vault (5.60m/18-4.5); Calvin Harrison in the men's 400m (45.56); Jebreh Harris in the men's 800m (1:46.82); Chantee Earl in the Sunny D Intense Sport Drink women's 800m (2:03.57); and former world champion Jearl Miles-Clark in the women's 400m (51.46).

Athlete quotes, 2004 Home Depot Invitational

Marion Jones, 1st, women's 100m and long jump: "Overall, I've very excited about my performances today. It's a treat for me to be able to come back to Los Angeles and salvage myself from my performance at Mt. SAC. The wind is out of my hands. To hit the 7-meter mark in the long jump, regardless of the wind, that's big for me. Even to break 11 seconds in the 100." Regarding BALCO: "I'm not worried about it. I'm kind of lucky. I know how to deal with it, and I know how to put it aside when I get on the track. Believ me, these ladies couldn't care less what is going on off the track, when they line up against me."

Maurice Greene, 1st, men's 100m: "It's amazing, what you can do when you're healthy and are able to train. Today is just a preview of what will happen down the line. This race was about a C [grade]. The wind made me rush my race - I couldn't control it. I'm satisfied with the race. I have to be a lot more patient." Regarding drug rumors and reports: "There is so much positive going on in the sport. People like to read the negative, but it's time to look at the positive things. This sport has progressed so far."

Alan Webb, 1st, men's 1,500m: "I knew beforehand that I could run a time like that, I just didn't know it would come this early in the season. It's huge. I felt really good out there. The rabbit did a great job. . It's been a rough couple of years. It's been hard to be patient. I was not used to not winning. It was really tough. Today was the day it came together. I can move on now. I didn't choose to have that burden [of being a high school star and the "future of the mile"]. As much as I said I didn't care what people thought, it's still there in the back of your mind. It's made me a strong person, runner and family member." On getting the "monkey off his back" with the win: "I always thought it was a gorilla. A monkey is a lot smaller. A gorilla with claws scratching at my face."

Melissa Morrison, 1st, women's 100m hurdles: "I am overjoyed. I've been working so hard. The last two years have been tough, but I stuck in there and it's paying off. I've really been working on my start. Technically, I've been struggling for two years, working on my trail leg. It's the best hurdling I've done. To come back and do what I did today is great."

Gail Devers, 2nd, women's 100m hurdles: "It turned out to be a boxing match. Perdita [Felicien] and I bumped three times. I was able to get it back together over the last three hurdles, and got up for second place, so I'm pleased with that."

Larry Wade, 1st, men's 110m hurdles: "I've been training hard. The broken arm really set me back last year. I've got focus now. Last year showed me a lot. I wasn't used to losing that much, and I went into races knowing I was going to lose. Now, I feel pressure free. I'm not a World Championships medalist. For the first time, I'm healthy, training hard, and having fun."

Shayne Culpepper, 1st, women's 3,000m: "It felt really fast, because I haven't done a 1,500 in a year. I've done four 3,000s and two 5,000s. My strength carried me through. My 15:01 (5,000m) felt a lot easier than this 4:06."

Tisha Waller, 1st, women's high jump: "It was a good day. I've been training hard, so I was a little apprehensive about jumping. But it worked out. It was good to clear 1.98, and it was even better to have good jumps at 2.01. I've been doing pretty intense training sessions because of the time of year."

Toby Stevenson, 1st, men's pole vault: "The win was obviously great. I think five of the top 13 vaulters in the world were here, and all the top Americans. It's always an honor to beat these guys. The crowd was great, the wind was tough." On how his mental approach has changed since clearing 6.0m: "Before my 6-meter jump and 5.94, I was always trying to jump big and clear the big bar. Now I'm more relaxed. I still have goals - making the Olympic team, medaling.

Christian Cantwell, 1st, men's shot put: "It was good. Coming in, I knew I'd be close to a PR. I knew I'd be 71-plus." On being the best thrower in the world right now: "I get nervous now before meets because I've won 11 in a row. It's a good nervous energy. I'm trying to stay undefeated. If I can be undefeated, I've got a good shot at Olympic gold.