Though failing to win their events, Jamaican athletes continued their preparation for the Beijing Olympics with creditable performances at the Nike Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon on Sunday.

Sherone Simpson, fastest in the world over 100m/200m in 2006, dipped below 11 seconds for the first time this year as she finished second in the women's 100m in 10.99 seconds.  Fellow Jamaican, Kerron Stewart, was also given the same time as she finished third.  American Torrie Edwards won the event in a 10.94 season's best. 

The men's 100m saw Trinidadian Daryl Brown winning in 10.07 seconds.  Trailing for most of the race, he edged past Americans Ivory Williams (10.10) and 17 year-old Jeffery Demps (10.19) in the last 5 meters to secure victory.  Jamaica's world 100m silver medallist from Helsinki, Michael Frater, was sixth in 10.24.

Sporting a new aerodynamic hair style, American Wallace Spearmon came back from a disappointing fifth in the 100m to win the 200 in 20.14 seconds ahead of Shawn Crawford (20.25) and Xavier Carter (20.29).  Chris Williams of Jamaica stopped the clock in 20.74 seconds to place sixth.

Jamaican-born American Sanya Richards won her pet event, the 400m, in convincing fashion.  Leading from start to finish, the American record holder, aiming for her first individual Olympic gold medal, won in a time of 50.10.  Another American, Mary Wineberg was second in 50.52 as Jamaicas Sharicka Williams (50.34) and Novlene Williams-Mills (50.92) finished third and fourth respectively.

Joanna Hayes of the United States, despite hitting the final hurdle and stumbling badly, won the women's 100m hurdles in a fast 12.53 seconds.  Dawn Harper, also from the US was second in 12.59 and Jamaica's Lacena Golding-Clarke was third in 12.65.  Bridgette Foster-Hylton continued her poor form as she finished last in her second consecutive race, finishing in 12.75 seconds.

In other events, former 5000m world record holder Meseret Defar, won the event in 14:38.73, some 27 seconds of the world record time run by her compatriot Tirunesh Dibaba on Friday at the Bislett Games.

LaShawn Merritt, who beat Jeremy Wariner last week, won the 400m in 44.65.

Running in her final race at Prefontaine, multiple 800m world champion, Maria Mutola of Mozambique, won her 16th straight race at the track meet winning in a time of 1:59.24. Alice Schmidt (2:00.01) of the US was second and another American, Hazel Clark-Riley (2:00.51) was third.