Monte Carlo (Monaco), Sept 14: Kelli White strengthened her chance of receiving the World Athlete of the Year award by winning the 200 meters yesterday at the inaugural World Athletics final.
In other races, American 110-meter hurdles world champion Allen Johnson ended the outdoor season unbeaten, while countryman Jerome Young, another embroiled in doping controversy, repeated his triumph at the Paris World Championships, in the 400 meters.
White, who tested positive for the banned stimulant Modafinil at last month's Worlds, won the 200 in 22.31 seconds, a comfortable .10 ahead of France's Muriel Hurtis. Russia's Anastasia Kapachinskaya was third in 22.57.
"It was hard. I ran a good time but it wasn't as fast as I needed," White said. "I have stress on me and I wasn't feeling well at all. I've had high blood pressure for a week and a half."
World heptathlon champion Carolina Kluft of Sweden was narrowly leading the rankings ahead of the Monaco meet, but opted to skip the final event, virtually forfeiting the award and the prize money.



Subsequently, South Africa's world high jump winner Hestrie Cloete became the favorite. She needed to jump 1.99 meters on Saturday to overcome Kluft.



The award now hinges on White's performance in today's 100 meters.


Bureau Report