MADRID, Spain – Marion Jones capped an unbeaten season on the track, and four victories put the U.S. men in a strong second-place position after the first day of competition at the 9th IAAF World Cup in Madrid.

With first-place finishes from Adam Nelson in the shot put, Savante Stringfellow in the long jump, James Carter in the 400m hurdles and the 4x100m relay team, Team USA’s men had 61 points at the end of the night, just four points behind defending-champion Africa, who had 65. Europe was in third with 60.

On the women’s side, the U.S. was third in team standings with 60 points but well within striking distance heading into Saturday’s final day of competition. Europe led by just 3 points, with 63, and Russia was second with 62. The IAAF’s only team track competition, athletes earn 9 team points for a win down to 1 point for ninth.

An intense, 20-minute downpour following the men’s hammer throw and just moments before all other events began delayed the meet for roughly 45 minutes and made for slippery conditions throughout the meet. But that didn’t deter the Americans.

Lane one of the straightaway was most affected by the rain – the lane that Marion Jones found herself in for the women’s 100 meters. The slushy footing, standing water in and three false starts (including one by her) couldn’t prevent her from winning the race in 10.90 seconds to finish 2002 with her first unbeaten season ever. (She lost long jump competitions in 1998-2000 and lost the 100m World Championship in 2001.) Tayna Lawrence of the Americas was second in 11.06 seconds.

But the night belonged to the U.S. men, who consistently rose to the challenge. U.S. champion and 2001 World Championships silver medalist Savante Stringfellow put his money where his mouth is by winning the men’s long jump with an effort of 8.21m/26-11.75, beating world and Olympic champion Ivan Pedroso of the Americas, who was second at 8.19m/26-10.5. Previously known as much for his Superman tattoos and t-shirts and his braggadocio, Stringfellow delivered with his first major championship.

Big wins are more familiar to Olympic silver medalist Adam Nelson, and the world’s dominant shot putter in 2002 lived up to his reputation with a winning throw of 20.80m/68-3. Justin Anlezark of Oceana was second at 20.77/68-1.75.

James Carter, taking advantage of the absence of world champion and 2002 Golden League jackpot winner Felix Sanchez, finished the season with a win in the 400m hurdles, dominating the race with a time of 48.27. Mubarak Faraj Al-Nubi of Asia was second in 48.96.

Team USA’s final win of the night was delivered by the men’s 4x100m relay team of Jon Drummond, Jason Smoots, Kaaron Conwright and Coby Miller, who ran a World Cup record of 37.95 seconds to easily beat the Americas (38.32).

In other events for the U.S. men, national 10,000m champion and record holder Meb Keflezighi ran an impressive race in the 5,000 meters, leading through much of the race and ultimately finishing fourth in 13:33.44. After months of high-mileage training at altitude, Keflezighi’s legs couldn’t match the kick of Spain’s Alberto Garcia (first in 13:30.04), but he dictated the race.

In the 100m, Jon Drummond acquitted himself very well with a blazing start – and a reaction time of .127 – that put him well in the lead until the final step of the race. But he was burdened by a lane draw that put him in lane one, with the top three finishers coming from lanes six, five and eight. Uchenna Emedolu of Africa was the surprise winner in 10.06, with Kim Collins of the Americas second in an identical time; Francis Obikwelu of Europe third in 10.09 and Drummond fourth in 10.10.

Alvin Harrison seized the lead in the men’s 400m and entered the straight in first place, but he faded badly in the final 50 meters to place fifth in 45.46. Michael Blackwood of the Americas won in a personal-best time of 44.60.

John McEwen placed sixth in the hammer with a throw of 71.03m/233-0, improving on each of his three legal throws and fouling on one attempt. Adrian Annus of Europe won the event with a mark of 80.93m/265-6. Nathan Leeper was eighth in the men’s high jump (2.10m/6-10/75) and Seneca Lassiter was ninth in the 1,500m to round out American competitors (4:05.82).

Though posting fewer individual wins, the Team USA’s women fared nearly as well as the men and are actually fewer points away from the team lead than their male counterparts entering Saturday’s final day of competition.

Jearl Miles-Clark saved her best performance of the year for last, running 50.27 – the fastest time by an American in 2002 – to place a strong second in the women’s 400m. Anna Guevarra of the Americas, the Grand Prix winner who won part of the Golden League Jackpot, won the race as expected in 49.56.

Sandra Glover had an equally strong showing in the women’s 400m hurdles, finishing second in 54.46 in a race won by Russia’s Yuliya Pechonkina in 53.76.

The 4x100m relay team of Chryste Gaines, Marion Jones, Inger Miller and Gail Devers boasted the same lineup that set the American record of 41.47 in 1997. With Miller coming back from injury and Devers having focused solely on the 100m hurdles since 2000, the team came together for the first time since then to finish a close second (42.05) to the Americas (41.91).

Sarah Schwald finished a very happy fourth in the 3,000m in 8:57.27 in a race that saw Berhane Adere of Africa (8:50.88) clip Gabriele Szabo of Europe (8:50.89) at the wire, thanks to Szabo raising her hands in victory prematurely. Yelena Zadorozhnaya of Russia was third in 8:50.93 in an extremely close race.

Team USA picked up a pair of fifth-place finishes from Yuliana Perez in the triple jump (13.79m/45-3) and Serene Ross in the javelin throw 56.91m/186-8. Finishing seventh were Mary Sauer in the pole vault (4.00m/13-1.5) and Sasha Spencer in the 800m (2:02.92). Spencer competed in one of the night’s most anticipated events that pitted Maria Mutola of Africa against Jolanda Ceplak of Europe. With Ceplak leading with 30m to go, Mutola, the Olympic and world champion, gave Ceplak a head-on look and sprinted to the win in 1:58.60. Ceplak, the world indoor record-holder, faded to third.

Events contested Saturday are the men’s 110m hurdles (Allen Johnson), men’s 800m (David Krummenacker), women’s 1,500m (Regina Jacobs), women’s 100m hurdles (Gail Devers), women’s 200m (Kelli White); men’s 200m (Ramon Clay), men’s 3,000m steeplechase (Anthony Famiglietti), women’s 5,000m (Colette Liss), men’s 3,000m (Bolota Asmeron), men’s and women’s 4x400m relays, men’s pole vault (Jeff Hartwig), women’s high jump (Tisha Waller), women’s hammer (Anna Norgren Mahon), men’s javelin (Chris Clever), women’s shot put (Teri Steer), men’s triple jump (Walter Davis) and the women’s long jump (Brianna Glenn).

Team USA quotes – 2002 World Cup Marion Jones, 1st, women’s 100m: “I don’t know if I’ve ever gone a season undefeated, so this feels very good. All the water was draining into lane 1. I’m not going to complain at all. You always have to be a little more careful when it’s wet. If my last race of the season I went head-first into the track, it wouldn’t be too cool.”

Jon Drummond, fourth, men’s 100m (10.10): “Because they (his fastest competitors) were so far away, I really didn’t see them move up until a blur at the end. I thought I had the race, but I’m glad – it’s not bad for an old guy. I made it through the full season. I think it’s a testament that Jon Drummond is still out there.”

Jearl Miles-Clark, 2nd, women’s 400m (50.27): “I felt surprisingly well, with the break for the rain. I haven’t put a race together all season. This was my last one, so I thought, ‘I’ve got to go home with good execution.”

Sandra Glover, 2nd, women’s 400m hurdles (54.46): “It was a good race. I hadn’t raced since August 28. Maybe I was a little rattled with the rain, but I’m pleased with my second-place finish.”

James Carter, 1st, men’s 400m hurdles (48.27): “I just wanted to get the victory. I think I would have run faster if someone was pushing me. The team points are important. It’s a team meet, so you’ve got to go out there to help the team win overall.”

Alvin Harrison, fifth, men’s 400m (45.46): “I did the best I could today. My strategy was to just go with the flow and run the way I felt.”

Sarah Schwald, 4th, women’s 3,000m (8:57.27): “I didn’t plan on this (running the 3,000) at all. I got a call on Tuesday (to run the 3,000 for the team) and I was a little hesitant, especially because of who was in the race. But I thought I’m not injured, I’m not tired, I’m still in Europe, so I might as well do it for the team. It’s a great experience and always a great honor to represent your country. I feel good about the race.”

Meb Keflezighi, 4th, men’s 5000m (13:33.44): “I tried to get the USA on the distance map and be competitive. I thought I did that. I would like to have medaled, but I ran the race I had to run and scored points for the team.”

Coby Miller, 1st, men’s 4x100m relay (anchor leg, 37.95): “I’m just happy to have the chance to run with these guys. Jon gave us a pep talk before the race, and it was great. This is the first time anchoring for me, but we had some good practices so I wasn’t too worried.”

Chryste Gaines, 2nd, women’s 4x100m relay (1st leg, 42.05): “The coaches decided we had chemistry and we would go with these four runners. The Americas just had a better day than us. We know we can break the world record.”

Inger Miller, women’s 4x100m relay (3rd leg): “The second leg is the longest leg, so it’s the best place for Marion right now. I’ve been off since July with my second (left) hamstring injury of the season, so I’m not racing sharp.”

Savante Stringfellow, 1st, men’s long jump (8.21m/26-11.25): “This is my first big championship, and it’s everything I thought it would be. Wow! It was a good field, and I had to play with the crowd to get them on my side. I knew if I jumped well, I would win. Believe the hype. Please believe the hype. I’ve been talking a whole lot. Right now, this is the place fo rme to start. It’s just the beginning. I’m excited. Wow!”

John McEwen, 6th place, hammer throw (71.03m/233-0): “I felt really good. I had one foul that would have been a good throw and would have set me up for a better final attempt. I would like to have thrown better, but I’m glad I scored more points than if I had placed ninth.”

For complete results from the 2002 World Cup, visit www.iaaf.org