Scotland: Top athletes from Great Britain, Russia and the United States gathered at the Scotstoun stadium on Sunday (June 29) in Glasgow for a three-nation international challenge, with the Americans the overall winners. British sprinter Dwain Chambers outclassed world record holder Tim Montgomery of the United States to claim victory in the men's 100 metres race. Chambers started well and left the rest of the field behind proving that he is returning to form with a winning time of 10.15 seconds -- a new stadium record. Montgomery could only finished second ahead of another Briton Mark-Lewis Francis. Montgomery and Lewis-Francis will be among the main threats to European champion Chambers at the world championships in Paris in August. American Gail Devers was disappointing in the women's 100 metres, starting well but losing ground to Russian Marina Kislova who caused an upset, clocking the fastest time of 11.34 seconds. Devers could only claimed second place in 11.50, the same time of Britain's Joice Maduaka who finished on the line with the American.

American Bernard Williams eased to victory in the 200 metres in 20.95 seconds, ahead of Britain's Christian Malcolm (21.26) and Darren Campbell (21.37). Malcolm ran a poor bend but managed to put in a strong finish to steal second place from Campbell. Chris Rawlinson, who helped Britain win the European Cup in Florence last weekend after running the second-fastest 400m hurdles time in the world this year, improved on that by one-hundredth of a second.

His main American rival Eric Thomas fell at the first hurdle, leaving Rawlinson to set a stadium record of 48.44 seconds. Only world champion Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic has run faster this year after clocking 48.1 in Ostrava.

Eric Thomas of the United States settled for second after a fall in the first hurdle while another Briton, Matt Elias finished third with a season's best of 49.62 seconds. American David Krummenacker overtook compatriot Khaderis Robinson in the final stretch to win the men's 800m in one minute 46:10 seconds with Britain's Michael East knocking nearly a second off his personal best to finish third in 1.46:65.

Pavel Potapovich helped Russia to second place overall with a comfortable victory in the 3,000m steeplechase after winning. The Russian who won this event at the European Cup, clocked the fastest time of eight minutes 23:70 seconds to finish well ahead of his main rivals.

United States athletes dominated the two long jump contests. Dwight Phillips of the United States leaped 8.18 metres with fellow American Kevin Dilworth claiming second with 8.12 metres. Local Scotsman Darren Ritchie delivered a personal best of 8.08 metres for third place. Grace Upshaw added another triumph for the Americans in the women's event, leaping 6.99 metres.

Anastasia Kapachinskya of Russia produced another stadium best time by taking the women's 200 metres in 23.34 seconds after American Kelli White almost stopped waiting for a recall for a false start. The United States went on to confirm their overall title after a double victory in the final 4x100 metres relay races.

The Americans beat Russia on the line to take the women's race in an exciting finish and held off the challenge from the Britons to claim a comprehensive victory in the final showcase event.

The United States accumulated a total of 137 points to win the three-nation challenge, ahead of Russia, who finished second with 113 points with Great Britain finishing last in the the final standings on 109.

Bureau Report