ASSOCIATED PRESS Bryan Clay set a world decathlon discus record with a mark of 183 feet, 3 inches en route to his decathlon title in Carson, Calif.

Clay dominates
decathlon

The Castle alumnus sets a record
and wins the event at the U.S. track
and field championships

This decathlon title was Bryan Clay's from the beginning.

The Castle High School alumnus grabbed the lead after Thursday's first event, then turned in a stellar performance yesterday to win the 10-event competition at the U.S. track and field championships in Carson, Calif.

Clay, an Olympic silver medalist at the 2004 Games, broke the world decathlon record in the discus with a throw of 183 feet, 3 inches, eclipsing the mark of 180-5 set by Razvigor Yankov of Bulgaria in 1979.

His throw, in the seventh event, came in a brisk crosswind in Day 2 of competition at Home Depot Center. The top three finishers in each event make the U.S. team for the world championships in Helsinki on Aug. 6-14, providing they meet qualifying standards.

"It was all right. It wasn't anything special," Clay said of his 8,506-point effort. "I haven't been able to train the last couple weeks as I would have liked to, due to some injuries and things like that. We came out, got the job done, the score was decent, and now we'll get ready for Helsinki."

Clay was followed by Paul Terek with 7,976 and Phil McMullen with 7,795. He won the discus and the 110 hurdles (14.06) yesterday, finished second in the javelin (196-11), tied for second in the pole vault (16-434) and took 11th in the 1,500 (4:57.11).

Clay never trailed in the competition, easily winning Thursday's first two events -- the 100 (10.70) and the long jump (24-5).

While Clay dominated the decathlon, a once-dominant track star made a stunning exit.

Marion Jones grabbed her warmup clothes and walked off the track moments before the start of the 100-meter preliminaries.

Moments later, Olympic gold medalist Justin Gatlin was disqualified from the men's 100 for a false start. However, Gatlin protested and was reinstated into the semifinals on a referee's decision.

It was a strange evening on Day 2 of the four-day meet that will determine the U.S. team at the world championships in Helsinki on Aug. 6-14.

There was some actual racing, though. Allen Johnson won his fifth U.S. 110-meter hurdle championship in 12.99 seconds, followed by Dominique Arnold in 13.01 and two-time Olympic silver medalist Terrence Trammell in 13.02.

They were the three fastest times in the world this year, and all three hurderlers were thinking sweep at the worlds.

"Get out the brooms for Helsinki," Johnson said.

Jones was considered a long shot to qualify for the worlds, but she never even gave it a go.

Jones' agent, Charles Wells, said that she had a hip flexor injury and would not compete in the 200 meters, either. The injury, he said, occurred two weeks ago during training.

"It was something that was very minor," Wells said. "She worked out and thought she was ready to go. She got to the track and it started bothering her, and she decided not to risk it."

Jones, a two-time world champion and 2000 Olympic gold medalist in the 100, has been dogged by doping suspicion for two seasons, even though she never has tested positive for performance enhancing drugs and has vehemently denied ever taking them.

Jones' abrupt departure came hours after her boyfriend, former world record holder Tim Montgomery, withdrew from the men's 100, ending his chances of qualifying for Helsinki.

Gatlin, who had talked at length about his budding rivalry with new world record holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica, was called for a false start based on computer readings of the pressure he puts on the blocks. The field gets one false start, but anyone who has one after that is eliminated.

After Gatlin's protest, meet referee Ed Gorman ruled that computer printouts showed movement in the lane next to Gatlin, by Mark Jelks, which may have caused Gatlin to flinch and register a false start.

As a result of the ruling, there will be three 100-meter semifinal heats today.