Paris, Aug 25: American sprinter Jon Drummond brought the world athletics championships to a standstill but an outstanding display by Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele in the 10,000 metres later came to the rescue of the competition's battered image. While a tearful Drummond was disqualified from the 100m quarter-finals for a false start yesterday, 21-year-old Bekele displayed maturity which the 34-year-old American lacked by outpacing his legendary countryman Haile Gebrselassie to take gold.
Youth was also the order of the day as 20-year-old Swedish pin-up Carolina Kluft held her nerve masterfully to win the Heptathlon and become only the third athlete to go over the 7,000 points landmark seeing off a spirited challenge by France's 1999 champion Eunice Barber.
There was joy for the Americans after the Drummond drama as Kelli white stormed home in the women's 100m from compatriot Torri Edwards with 2001 champion Zhanna block in third - but the ghost of the absent Marion Jones still hung over the field.
The false start rule, which was introduced this season, was what led to Drummond's stubborn refusal to leave the track, a decision which was roundly booed by the French crowd.
The self-styled clown prince of the track had delayed his heat for 20 minutes after refusing to accept the decision and lay down on the track.
The new rules state that once any athlete has committed one false start the next person who jumps the gun is thrown out regardless of who was penalised first. Bureau Report