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Today's paper. Last Updated: 06/01/2012

Baton Goes to Batten, Outgunning Gunnell

NICE, France -- Running the fastest time this season, American Kim Batten handed world and Olympic champion Sally Gunnell her first defeat in nearly a year in the 400-meter hurdles.


Second to Briton Gunnell in their last three meetings, Batten surged past her rival on Monday at the final hurdle, winning in a personal-best time of 53.72 at the Nice Grand Prix. Gunnell was a close second in 53.91.


It was the first time Gunnell had tasted defeat since American Sandra Patrick-Farmer beat her in the Grand Prix final last September.


"I just knew at the eighth hurdle I had a lot left so I just lifted my knees and ran," said Batten. "This was one of my main goals to beat Sally. It really boosts my confidence.


The men's 100 meters was missing its star attraction, Olympic champion Linford Christie having withdrawn earlier because of a pulled hamstring.


With his more illustrious team mates Leroy Burrell and Carl Lewis also absent, Dennis Mitchell of the United States cruised to victory with an ordinary 10.19. Donovan Bailey of Canada was second in 10.25.


In the men's high jump, Cuba's Javier Sotomayor continued to flirt with breaking his own world record, winning with a height of 2.40 meters.


Olympic champion Mark McKoy set a new Austrian national record by winning the 110 hurdles in 13.28.


Ukraine's Sergei Bubka won the pole vault with 5.90 meters, narrowly missing on his third attempt at 6.05. Looking to establish a new season's best, Bubka actually cleared the bar, brushing it with his chest as he dropped into the pit.


Sonia O'Sullivan established an Irish record and the best time of the year in the 1,500. Arguably the best non-Chinese middle distance runner around, she won in three minutes, 59.10 seconds. She recently set a European record in the 3,000.


At the world championships last year she took a fourth in the 3,000 and second in the 1,500, losing to Chinese runners in both races.


(Reuters, AP)




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