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Belarussian shocks field by winning 100

ATHENS - A personal best was good enough for a medal but not good enough to be called the world's fastest woman.

For the first time since 1980, an American can't claim that distinction.

Belarus' Yuliya Nesterenko, a virtual unknown, edged American Lauryn Williams for the gold medal in the 100 meters.

U.S. sprinters and coaches had barely heard of Nesterenko, if at all, until she started posting fast times in the qualifying heats. Nesterenko had never broken 11 seconds until the Olympics but did so in all four heats in Greece.

In the final, Nesterenko won in 10.93 seconds, .03 seconds faster than Williams. The United States had last lost this race in 1980. Evelyn Ashford, Florence Griffith-Joyner, Gail Devers (twice) and Marion Jones had won the previous 100s.

"I came as a big surprise for the outside world," Nesterenko said. "But I was well-prepared, and I only prepared for the 100 meters. I had consistent results all year, and here was the perfect moment to break the 11-second barrier. I was not interested in my opponents. I just focused on my perfect race from start to finish."

Williams, who qualified for the Olympics by edging Gail Devers by .01 seconds at the Trials, surged to an early lead only to be caught by Nesterenko in the final third of the race. Leaning at the finish, Williams edged Jamaica's Veronica Campbell for second by that same .01 seconds.

"I did have a great start," Williams said. "And I was very happy with it. And prior to the final 5 or 10 meters, I thought I was in there for the gold.

"The only thing about the race is that I wish (Nesterenko) would have been next to me. I don't know if the outcome would have been any different, but I think it would have pushed me a little bit more."

Williams' achievement was significant for a U.S. squad missing familiar names and her father.

In the stands, David Williams celebrating after the results were posted. David Williams, who has leukemia and needs dialysis because of kidney failure, was originally not scheduled to travel. But because of a large donation, he saw his daughter race although he missed the first two heats.

"I'm so glad he made it here," she said. "Even on my best days, I don't have the strength he has."

The medal was a little surprising for a team missing its biggest names. World champion Torri Edwards and Kelli White are out because of drug suspensions. Defending Olympic champion Marion Jones did not qualify. Chryste Gaines did not qualify and is being investigated for steroid use.

That left Williams, LaTasha Colander and Devers. Devers, 37, didn't qualify for the final, and Colander finished last in 11.18 seconds.

ATHENS - The United States' Stacy Dragila, the defending champion, medal favorite and former world record holder, failed to make it out of pole vault qualifying.

Dragila, who won the vault when it debuted in 2000, missed three attempts at 14 feet, 51/4 inches, well below her best of 15-10.

It wasn't close on her final attempt. Dragila came up short on her jump and plowed into the bar. On her previous attempt, she didn't even complete the jump. Her struggles, which she blamed in part on sparse training caused by Achilles' tendon problems, left her sobbing. After her third miss, she shook her head, slowly packed up her gear, put on a cap and headed off the field.

"This is something I should be able to do in my sleep," she said.

Poland's Monika Pyrek had the best vault at 14-7.

HEPTATHLON: Sweden's Carolina Kluft added the gold to her 2002 European championship and 2003 world championship. Kluft came within 48 points of becoming only the second athlete to score 7,000 in the Olympics. The only one to break 7,000 is Jackie Joyner-Kersee, who did it 1992 and 1996.

Kluft, 21, finished the seven events with a 517-point advantage over Lithuania's Austra Skujyte, whose personal best of 6,435 made her the first woman from her country to win a medal. Britain's Kelly Sotherton got the bronze with 6,424.

Kluft, who led by 240 after Friday's four events, finished first in Saturday's long jump and fifth in the javelin before needing only to finish the 800.

Defending champion Denise Lewis of Britain pulled out before the final two events. She only recently returned to competition after an ankle injury and had dropped to 18th.

MEN'S 100: Five men broke 10 seconds, with the United States' Shawn Crawford's 9.89 the best. And several top competitors slowed before the end, which means there could be some fast times in today's semifinals and final.

Americans Maurice Green (9.93) and Justin Gatlin (9.96) also qualified along with Portugal's Francis Obikwelu (9.93), Jamaica's Asafa Powell (9.99) and Kim Collins, the world champion from St. Kitts and Nevis (10.05).

WOMEN'S 400 HURDLES: Thirteen days after knee surgery, world champion Jana Pittman of Australia won her preliminary heat in 54.83 seconds. A doctor told her the Olympics were out of the question after she tore cartilage in her right knee during warmups for a meet Aug. 6 in Zurich.

Without a knee brace, Pittman stumbled after clearing the fifth hurdle. She later said she thought her knee would buckle, but she maintained her form. After passing the eighth hurdle, she said she knew she would make it. She qualified ninth for today's semifinals. The final is Wednesday.

WOMEN'S DISCUS: Russia's Natalya Sadova took the gold at 219-10, 13 inches better than silver medalist Anastasia Kelesidou of Greece. Belarus' Irina Yatchenko took the bronze at 217-1.

MEN'S 400: Americans Jeremy Wariner (44.87), Otis Harris (44.99) and Derrick Brew (45.05) had three of the six fastest times in the semifinals. Jamaica's Brandon Simpson (44.97) and Michael Blackwood (45.00) and France's Leslie Djhone (45.01) also qualified for Monday's final.