Clement runs year's fastest 400 metres hurdles

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, June 25 (Reuters) Kerron Clement ran the fastest 400 metres hurdles in the world this year, 47.39 seconds, despite stuttering at the final barrier in the U S championships.

The 20-year-old, who broke Michael Johnson's indoor 400 metres world record in 2005, raced past world champion Bershawn Jackson in the closing 40 metres to repeat as the national champion yesterday.

Jackson was second in 47.48 seconds.

Season-leading performances were also set in the women's 400 metres and the women's 400 metres hurdles.

World silver medallist Sanya Richards clocked 49.27 seconds to retain her U.S. women's 400 metres title. Lashinda Demus clocked 53.50 seconds in the women's 400 hurdles.

Men's world silver medallist Andrew Rock won the men's 400 metres in 44.45 seconds with LaShawn Merritt second in 44.50 seconds.

Collegiate record holder Ginnie Powell continued her outstanding 100 metres hurdling by winning in 12.63 seconds.

JONES WITHDRAWS Newly crowned U S 100 metres champion Marion Jones and former 100 metres world champion Torri Edwards pulled out of the preliminaries of the women's 200 metres as did Richards.

''Three rounds in one day in the 100 metres took a toll on her legs,'' Jones's agent, Charles Wells, told Reuters.

The 30-year-old Jones warmed up for her 200 metres race, then decided to withdraw, Wells said.

Inclement weather on Thursday had forced officials to hold all three rounds of the men's and women's 100 metres on Friday.

Jones had the fastest time in all three rounds, winning the final in 11.10 seconds.

Former world champion Tom Pappas won the decathlon with 8,319 points. Bryan Clay, the 2005 world champion, dropped out after no-heighting in the pole vault.

Russ Buller cleared 5.80 metres to win the pole vault, and Olympic and world 400 metres gold medallist Jeremy Wariner led qualifying in the men's 200 metres. He clocked 20.28 seconds while easing up.

The championships, the U S qualifier for September's IAAF World Cup in Athens, conclude today.

REUTERS VJ BST0702