Marion Jones Anchors Record-Setting USA Teams At Penn Relays In Philadelphia

Jet, May 15, 2000

American track-and-field star Marion Jones anchored the U.S. team to a world record of I minute, 27.46 seconds in the 800-meter relay at the recent Penn Relays at the University of Pennsylvania's Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

In her first 200-meter run since back spasms forced her out of the 1999 world championships, Jones and teammates LaTasha Jenkins, LaTasha Colander-Richardson and Nanceen Perry shattered the previous 800-meter record of 1:28:15 set by a team from then-East Germany in 1980.

Jones also anchored the women's 400-meter relay, helping the Americans take first place and set a Franklin Field record of 42.33 seconds.

Strengthening her lower body with weight training and stretching exercises, Jones said she no longer felt pain in her back, the New York Times reported. Her recent win proved the seriousness of her attempt to win five gold medals at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

A record crowd of more than 102,000 attended the three-day event in which the Americans swept all six races in the men's and women's USA vs. the World competition.

Maurice Greene, the 100-meter world record-holder, anchored the men's 400 that won with a Franklin Field record of 38.22 and the 800 that was timed at 1:19.92.

Michael Johnson, the Olympic gold medalist and world record-holder in the 200 and 400, anchored the men's 1,600 relay that set a stadium record of 2:56.60, and Jearl Miles Clark ran the final leg on the women's 1,600 that won at 3:25.96.