U.S. takes 1st, 2nd in 400 hurdles

HELSINKI, Finland — Felix Sanchez pulled up with an injured hamstring in the 400-meter hurdles Tuesday, and Bershawn Jackson led teammate James Carter in a 1-2 U.S. finish at the world championships.

Sanchez, the two-time defending champion from the Dominican Republic, stopped after one hurdle in a race that gave the United States another big victory following its wins in the men's and women's 100-meter finals.

Jackson was timed in 47.30 seconds, followed by Carter in 47.43 and Dai Tamesue of Japan in 48.10.

Justin Gatlin, still sluggish from winning the 100 meters, reached the quarterfinals of the 200 to keep alive his bid for three gold medals at the worlds.

He looked lethargic on the bend and never got his famed acceleration going. Still, he advanced as the third and last assured qualifier from his heat.

"I feel a little sore, tired, like any person that runs fast," Gatlin said.

He caught a break when torrential rain storm forced organizers to delay his quarterfinal until Wednesday, giving him one more day to rest.

Running into a headwind, Gatlin was timed in 20.90 seconds. He was almost a second behind fellow American Tyson Gay, who finished in 19.99.

Wallace Spearmon, the season's best performer, easily won his heat. Jamaican teenager Usain Bolt proved he will be a force, routing his opponents in his heat from the tight inside lane.

Gatlin is going for three golds and trying to become the dominant athlete of the championships. He has the 400 relays set for this weekend.

Spearmon, however wants to spread America's sprinting wealth.

"It is my job to make sure he doesn't get two golds," Spearmon said. "I want to take one home, too. He cannot be too greedy."

In the women's 800, Cuba's Zulia Calatayud won in 1 minute, 58.82 seconds. Defending champion Maria Mutola, seeking her fourth title, finished fourth. Hasna Benhassi of Morocco was second in 1:59.42, followed by Tatyana Andrianova of Russia in 1:59.60.

Former Kenyan Saif Saaeed Shaheen of Qatar retained his world steeplechase title, again frustrating Kenyan attempts to reclaim an event they consider their own.

Shaheen, formerly known as Stephen Cherono, extended his unbeaten streak to 22 races dating to 2002. He easily beat Kenyans Ezekiel Kemboi and Brimin Kipruto, then wrapped himself in the Qatar flag as he toured Olympic Stadium.