EUGENE, Oregon, 6 June 2005 — World record-holder Tim Montgomery, his mind focused on a doping hearing that could result in a lifetime ban, ran poorly and finished seventh in a fast 100 meters at the Prefontaine Classic on Saturday.

American Montgomery clocked 10.10 seconds in a wind-assisted race while his compatriot and Olympic champion Justin Gatlin won in 9.84. Jamaican Asafa Powell was second in the same time with the wind advantage 3.4 meters per second. “As much as I tried to go out there with a clear mind, it just wasn’t there,” said Montgomery, who will appear before a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) hearing in San Francisco to appeal against doping charges by the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

“I just can’t fool myself. My main focus is on Monday.” Montgomery set the 100m world record of 9.78 seconds in 2002.

Olympic 110 meters hurdles gold medalist and co-world record holder Liu Xiang of China also proved he is the world’s best in his event.

Liu finished strong to clock 13.06 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year. He said he was not pleased with his race over the first three hurdles, but liked the way he finished.

Four-time world champion Allen Johnson, who fell in the early rounds of last year’s Olympics in Athens, had bad luck again on Saturday. He was disqualified from the race for a false start.

World champion Perdita Felicien of Canada won a high quality women’s 100 meters hurdles in 12.58 seconds and US Olympic silver medalist Lauryn Williams dominated the women’s 100 in 11.16 seconds. Olympic champion Yuliya Nesterenko of Belarus came last in 11.47.

Kenyan Alex Kipchirchir won the fastest mile of the year in 3:50.91 while Bahamian Olympic gold medalist Tonique Darling claimed the women’s 400 meters in 49.95. British marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe had hoped to run a personal best in a rare appearance in the women’s 1,500 meters. However, a tumble in which six runners, including Radcliffe, went down with 600 meters to go ruined her chances. The Briton scraped both hands and bruised her knees in the fall before finishing in a time of 4:13.13 for sixth place. American Christin Wurth won in 4:09.45.