Jones Takes Long Jump, Completes Rare Double Victories At Usa Championships Prime Star For World Competition

Marion Jones proved she could be the women’s answer to Carl Lewis at the USA Track and Field Championships.

Jones, once considered the finest high school sprint talent in the United States and already winner of the 100 meters at the championships, added the long jump title Sunday, beating Jackie Joyner-Kersee.

Joyner-Kersee, the 1988 Olympic gold medalist, two-time world champion and American record-holder, had won seven consecutive national long jump titles until the 21-year-old Jones ended that streak.

The last woman to sweep both the 100 and long jump at the USA Championships was Sheila Echols in 1988. The last man to do it was Lewis in 1986. He also accomplished the feat from 1981-83, the first time when he was 19.

Now along comes Jones, who helped North Carolina win the NCAA basketball title in 1994.

She began her stunning week by running the world’s two fastest times in the 100 preliminaries and semifinals, 10.98 and 10.92 seconds Wednesday, then won the final Thursday in 10.97.

She completed her double Sunday, leaping 22 feet, 9 inches, a career-best and the longest outdoor jump in the world this year, as she became the No. 6 performer in U.S. history.

“A lot of the pressure was taken off after I won the 100,” Jones said. “And then, all of a sudden, it came back after Jackie jumped.”

Joyner-Kersee had taken the lead with her best jump in Round 5, but Jones, jumping behind her, quickly overtook her.

The 35-year-old Joyner-Kersee, bidding for her ninth long jump title overall, finished second with a wind-aided 22-8.

“Knowing there’s someone out there as gifted as she is tends to make me better,” Joyner-Kersee said, adding that this will be her final season of competition.

“I see a lot of talent (in her). It’s obvious she has the speed. Once she learns to control the speed and utilize her jumping ability into the pit, greater distances will come. As she continues to grow and develop, who knows?”

Jones had planned her entrance into the Olympic Games last year, but she broke a bone in her left foot playing basketball and that derailed her chance to compete in the trials.

Now, she will make her grand entrance onto the international stage at the World Championships at Athens, Greece, in August.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: THE WINNERS ARE … Champions at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships: Men 100 Maurice Greene, 9.90 seconds. 200 - Jon Drummond, 20.23. 400 - Antonio Pettigrew, 44.65. 800 - Mark Everett, 1:44.37. 1,500 - Seneca Lassiter, 3:45.85. Steeplechase - M. Croghan, 8:20.86. 5,000 - Bob Kennedy, 13:30.86. 10,000 - Mike Mykytok, 28:34.93. 110 Hurdles - Allen Johnson, 13.25. 400 Hurdles - Bryan Bronson, 47.79. 20km Walk - Curt Clausen, 1:27:12. High Jump - Charles Austin, 7 ft., 7 in. Pole Vault - Lawrence Johnson, 19-4-1/4. Long Jump - Joe Greene, 27-7-1/2. Triple Jump - Kenny Harrison, 55-8-1/4. Shot Put - Randy Barnes, 72-3-1/2. Discus - John Godina, 221-0. Hammer - Kevin McMahon, 254-0. Javelin - Tom Pukstys, 275-6. Decathlon - Steve Fritz, 8,604 points.

Women 100 - Marion Jones, 10.97. 200 - Inger Miller, 22.62. 400 - Jearl Miles-Clark, 49.40. 800 - Kathy Rounds, 2:00.45. 1,500 - Regina Jacobs, 4:03.42. 5,000 - Libbie Hickman, 15:37.73. 10,000 - Lynn Jennings, 32:26.41. 100 Hurdles - Melissa Morrison, 12.61. 400 Hurdles - Kim Batten, 52.97. 10km Walk - D. Lawrence, 46:45.36. High jump - Amy Acuff, 6-5. Pole Vault - Stacy Dragila, 14-1-1/4. Long Jump - Marion Jones, 22-9. Triple Jump - Niambi Dennis, 44-8-3/4. Shot Put - Connie Price-Smith, 62-6-1/2. Discus - Lacy Barnes-Mileham, 200-8. Hammer - Dawn Ellerbe, 206-7. Javelin - Lynda Lipson, 192-0. Heptathlon - Kelly Blair, 6,465.