All four athletes stayed in the chase for the $1 million Golden League jackpot at the Weltklasse Grand Prix in Zurich yesterday evening, but, unlike so many occasions before, the meeting failed to provide a world record.
Marion Jones took her winning run over 200 metres to 21 races - her last defeat was back in 1995 - with another comfortable triumph, clocking 22.10 seconds despite deliberately slowing down in the closing metres.
The American's victory also maintained her unbeaten record in the Golden League meetings with just Brussells and Berlin to come.
There were similarly impressive victories for Denmark's Wilson Kipketer over 800 metres and Gabriela Szabo of Romania over the 3,000 metres, who, along with Kenya's Bernard Barmasai in the 3,000 metres steeplechase, chalked up their fifth straight win in the seven-race challenge.
Once again, Kipketer ran the race the way he wanted and eased in front coming off the final bend to win in one minute 43.01 seconds. Only he has run faster this season, although Hezekiel Sepeng at least ensured a race to the line while taking second in 1:43.66.
Szabo was equally dominant in sprinting to the 3,000 metres win with a meeting record of 8:25.03. Morocco's Zahra Ouaziz chased in vain in the runner-up spot in 8:26.48, while Britain's Paula Radcliffe set a national record of 8:27.40 in third.
The most difficult win of the four belonged to Bernard Barmasi of Kenya who was forced home in the steeplechase by his compatriot Christopher Koskei with a time of 8:05.16, almost 10 seconds outside the world record he set in the same stadium two years ago.
Koskei made it a two-man duel down the home straight, and Barmasi won by just three-tenths of a second. "This was the hardest win for sure," said Barmasi. "The main thing now is to win the World Championships before returning for the last two races."
American world record holder Maurice Greene again proved that he's the fastest man on the circuit by cruising to another 100 metres victory in 9.99 seconds. Greene didn't have it all his own way as the young Obadele Thompson of Barbados pushed him to the line to take second in 10.02, with Canada's Bruny Surin third in 10.06.
One of the last world record attempts of the evening was Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia, who was targeting his own mark of 12:39.36 also set in the Letzigrund stadium two years ago. Despite a brave effort, he was over 10 seconds short with his time of 12:49.64, still the fastest in the world this year.
There was disappointment for Ireland's Mark Carroll in that race as he was unable to go with the fast early pace and trailed home in 17th position in 13:31.31.
There was also a clear return to form following his illness by world 1,500 metres record holder Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco, who quickly made this a one-man affair before coming home in 3:28.57 - the fastest in the world this year.
Peter Coghlan underlined his excellent form prior to Seville by winning the 110 metres hurdles B race earlier in the evening with a time of 13.39 seconds, just .09 of a second outside the Irish record he set last weekend. The Dubliner recovered from a slow start to edge out Dudley Dorival of Haiti, who clocked a national record of 13.42 in second spot.
Meanwhile, reigning world 200 metres champion Ato Boldon will not defend his title in Seville because of injury.
