Nelson goes long

The first round of throwing saw three-time world champion John Godina leading the competition at 20.68m/67-10.25, followed closely by 2004's #1 world-ranked Christian Cantwell (20.44/67-0.75) and two-time Olympic silver medalist Adam Nelson (20.34/66-8.75). Cantwell grabbed the lead in round 2 with his longest toss of the day, 20.94m/68-8.5, but his lead lasted mere moments. When Nelson stepped into the ring next, he took the lead for good with 20.97m/68-9.75.

The two-time Olympic Trials champion was not content with that mark, however, has he popped a giant throw of 21.66m/71-0.75 in the third round.

Dibaba crushes WR

Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba, the 2003 world outdoor champion and world junior record holder, added an impressive open world record to her resume in the women's 5,000-meter run. Running much of the race with her older sister, Ejagayehu, the 19-year-old Tirunesh ran splits of 2:55.85 for 1 km and 5:50.9 for 2 km, aided by pacesetter Yelena Kenales. After Kenales dropped off, Dibaba forged ahead with 8:51.2 at 3 km, and 11:46.62 4 km. She blasted the final kilometer in 2:46.7 to cross the line in 14:32.93, which annihilated the world record of 14:39.29 set by countrywoman Berhane Adere in 2004. Ejegayhu Dibaba was second in 14:58.25.

Her performance caused meet director Mark Wetmore to lighten his wallet by $25,000, making good on his world-record bonus offer. Dibaba happily accepted an oversized Visa check card symbolizing her reward.

Rotich wins fast men's mile

The men's mile provided plenty of speed and excitement as world indoor bronze medalist Laban Rotich moved past Olympic silver medalist and #1 world-ranked Bernard Lagat to win the Reebok Joe Concannon men's file. Rotich finished in 3:53.18 to break the Boston Indoor Games meet record, followed by Lagat in 3:53.61. The duo led seven finishers under 4 minutes, including Elkanah Angwenyi (3:54.23), Mark Fountain (3:54.77), Nate Brannen (3:55.11), Rob Myers (3:58.83) and Scott McGowan (3:58.91).

Cragg overtakes Bekele in dramatic 3,000

Former University of Arkansas standout Alistair Cragg won a somewhat bizarre Reebok men's 3,000-meter run. With 400 meters remaining, Olympic 10,000-meter champion Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia appeared to be unaware that two laps remained. Sprinting as if he had only 200 meters left, Bekele crossed the start/finish line first, with Cragg behind him. But Bekele discovered that another lap yet remained. Cragg immediately passed Bekele, who never recovered. Cragg finished in 7:39.89 to Bekele's 7:41.42. Markos Geneti was third in 7:42.97.

Another Ethiopian, Olympic 5,000m gold medalist and 2004 world indoor 3,000m champion Meseret Defar, came within an eyelash of breaking the world record in the Reebok women's 3,000 meter run. Impeded briefly by two runners she was lapping with 60 meters remaining in the race, Defar sprinted to the finish in 8:30.05, just shy of Berhane Adere's three-year-old world record of 8:29.15.

American winners

American record holder David Krummenacker showed he is back in form after a year and a half of injury-induced setbacks. The 2003 world indoor 800-meter gold medalist took the men's 1,000 meter run in 2:20.91, not far off his American record of 2:17.86, set at this meet in 2002. Defending Boston Indoor Games champion Berhanu Alemu of Ethiopia was second in 2:21.19.

Olympic finalist Muna Lee easily won the women's 200 in 22.99 seconds, while Jason Smoots ran a personal best of 6.53 to win the men's 60 meters over Leonard Scott at 6.59.

In her first race as a professional, 2004 Indiana University grad Danielle Carruthers scored an upset over two-time Olympic bronze medalist Melissa Morrison-Howard in the Visa women's 60-meter hurdles in 8.06 seconds. Morrison-Howard was second in 8.11.

Kluft wins LJ

Olympic heptathlon gold medalist Carolina Kluft posted a best mark of 6.63m/21-9 on her final attempt to win a Reebok women's long jump competition, which she led since the second round of jumping. Nolle Graham's best of 6.39m/20-11.75 was good for second, with Olympic Trials runner-up Grace Upshaw third at 6.34m/20-9.75.

World indoor record holder Jolanda Ceplak of Slovenia easily won the women's 800 meters with her time of 2:01.52.

More winners

In other events, national high school cross country champion Aislinn Ryan won the junior girls' mile, catching leader Nicole Blood with 300 meters and going on to win the 4:49.92. Hood was second in 4:50.87. Leaf Barnes won the junior boys' 1-mile run in 4:13.61. Jerry Harris used a furious kick in the final 60 meters to win the men's 400 meters in 46.82.