STANFORD, Calif. – A sizzling women’s high jump competition and wins by some familiar faces provided an exciting day of competition Saturday at the Oracle U.S. Open, the fourth stop on USA Track & Field’s 2003 Outdoor Golden Spike Tour. A crowd of 4,122 attended the meet at Stanford University’s Cobb Track and Angell Field.

The women’s high jump provided the most riveting competition of the afternoon, with the United States’ top four jumpers dueling on the jumping apron. Three-time U.S. outdoor champion Amy Acuff, 2000 Olympic Trials champion Karol Rovelto, four-time U.S. outdoor champion Tisha Waller, and 2002 U.S. outdoor runner-up Gwen Wentland all cleared 1.95m/6-4.75 to set up an exciting final two rounds. Acuff and Rovelto both cleared 1.97m/6-5.5 on their first attempts, while Waller and Wentland missed on all three attempts.

Acuff’s first try at 1.99m/6-6.25 was the narrowest of misses and was the closest she or Rovelto would come to making the height. Acuff won the competition with fewer misses, with Rovelto second at 1.97, Wentland third and Waller fourth at 1.95m/6-5.75, an outdoor personal best for Wentland.

Three-time world champion John Godina returned to the winner’s podium in the Oracle men’s shot put. Continuing his comeback from a hyperextended finger injury, Godina threw 20.67m/67-9.75. Reese Hoffa placed second with 20.65m/67-9. Jamie Beyer was third at 20.64m/67-8.75.

Miesha McKelvy continued her winning ways in the women’s 100-meter hurdles, leading throughout the race to win in 12.60, her third victory of the Golden Spike Tour. Jenny Adams placed second in 12.73, with Lacena Golding Clarke of Jamaica third in 12.89.

Inger Miller turned in a strong performance in the Oracle women’s 100 meters with a wind-aided winning time of 11.04 seconds. The 1999 World Championships silver medalist was followed by LaTasha Jenkins in 11.11 and Angela Daigle in 11.28.

Coming back from shoulder surgery last year, defending U.S. champion Breaux Greer threw 77.75m/255-1 to win the javelin throw. Chris Clever was second (77.31m/253-8) and Oscar Duncan third (74.56m/244-7).

Suzy Powell, the 1996 Olympic Trials champion and three-time U.S. runner-up, threw 61.24m/ 200-11 to take the women’s discus over four-time U.S. champion and fellow UCLA grad Seilala Sua (60.76m/199-4), and Home Depot Invitational winner Aretha Hill (60.39m/198-1).

Jeff Hartwig mastered a brisk crosswind to win the men’s pole vault with a mark of 5.70m/18-8.25, with his only miss coming at 5.60m/18-4.5. Tim Mack was second and Toby Stevenson was third, both at 5.60m/18-4.5

J.J. Johnson used a strong final 100 meters to steal the Verizon men’s 200 meters in 20.42. John Capel, the 2000 Olympic Trials champion, moved up to second in 20.42 with 1999 world champion Maurice Greene suffering from a slow start and not finding his form, placing third in 20.43. 2001 U.S. outdoor champion Shawn Crawford led early before fading to fourth in 20.47.

David Lelei of Kenya and David Krummenacker of the United States, the world indoor champion at 800 meters, battled through the final 300 meters of the Oracle men’s 1,000 meters. It was Lelei who edged Krummenacker in the final meters, running 2:16.43 to Krummenacker’s 2:17.10. Kevin Sullivan of Canada was third in 2:19.06.

Natasha Danvers won the women’s 400m hurdles in 56.25 seconds, with Brenda Taylor third (56.86) and Tanisha Mills third (57.22).

In a battle of top-ranked Americans, Kellie Suttle won the Visa women’s pole vault with a clearance of 4.50m/14-9, with Mary Sauer second and Mel Mueller third, both at 4.40m/14-5.25.

Robert Gary ran an impressive race in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, clocking 8:27.77 to win by nine second over Americans Tom Chorny (8:36.35) and Tom Kloos (8:38.63).

In the Nike men’s 1,500 meters, William Chirchir of Kenya pulled away for the win in 3:37.99, with Kenyan Laban Rotich second in 3:38.84 and Hudson de Souza of Brazil third in 3:39.50.

Kenyans swept the men’s 3,000 meters, led by Luke Kipkosgei (7:46.86), Albert Chepkurui (7:47.47) and Martin Keino (7:48.53). Adam Goucher was the top American, placing fourth in 7:48.72.

The women’s 800 meters, Michelle Ballentine of Jamaica responded to a surge from Regina Jacobs at the 400-meter mark and moved to the lead with 100 meters to go, winning in 2:01.62. Jacobs was second in 2:02.42 with Chantee Earl third in 2:03.77.

Erica Wheeler won the women’s javelin with a throw of 52.88m/173-06.

The Golden Spike Tour will return to Stanford June 19-22 for the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

For complete results from the Oracle U.S. Open, visit www.usatf.org or http://www.ustfopen.org/results2003.shtml

ATHLETE QUOTES, Oracle U.S. Open

Women’s 400m hurdles —Natasha Danvers, 56.25 I felt good out there. I was nervous out there. It has been a while since my last race. We had a strong head wind in the backstretch. It was a tough race for me. I felt more exhausted. But considering the conditions, I will take that race.

Men’s 400m Paralympic—Royal Mitchell, 52.77 I want wanted to run a better race than last week. Here, I ran a whole lot smarter. I got an inside lane and I could see the whole field. I have been focusing on speed work like the one and the two [hundred meter]. It’s awesome just to be here with all the professional athletes. Sometimes the veterans give you tips and it helps.

Women’s Pole Vault—Kellie Suttle, 14-9 ¼ The wind was rough at first, but got better. (14-9 ¼) is a good start for me. It ties me for my best mark of the season. I’m O.K. with it. I am not disappointed at all. These were the best conditions we have had this season. It wasn’t raining and we didn’t have to deal with a headwind. I’m on the verge of getting some big marks. I just have to be patient.

Men’s 3000m Steeple—Robert Gary, 8:27.77 (U.S. Leader) I felt good out there. I wasn’t sure what shape I was in. It was the first good race I’ve run since I’ve been doing my training. But a lot of post-collegiate guys haven’t run yet, so I’ll enjoy this for like an hour or so. It was a little windy out there, but I felt really good and relaxed on that last straightaway.

Men’s 3000m—Luke Kipkosgei, 7:46.86 (9th fastest time in the world) This was not a good time for me. I am very disappointed in the time. I was hoping to finish in the 7:35 range. The wind was very strong on the backstretch. On the home stretch, the wind was on my back.

Men’s 100m Paralympic—Brian Frasure, 11.02 (wind-aided) On having a wind-aided time: When you run fast times like that, its too bad it can’t count for a world record. But you can’t ever predict the weather. So you just gotta go out and run fast at every meet.

Men’s 1500m—William Chirchir I was just trying to run a [personal best] today, and I did. I was feeling a little tired coming into the homestretch, but I found my friend Laban [Rotich] and I decided to go. Laban and I have a friendly competition and I train with him.

Men’s 200m—J.J. Johnson, 20.26 It was rough. I just tried to hang on with those guys coming off the turn. It was a nice little head win that we ran into for the first 60 meters. Every win is important. The only reputation that you have in track is if you are number one. Then they notice you. Many athletes need the respect that they don’t get.

Maurice Greene The 200 is a lot different. You don’t have to be as aggressive. You have to negotiate a whole lot of other things. The straightaway is easy. I have trouble with a lot of the other parts. I only think that I went well was coming off the curve. But I didn’t run the straightaway well. The only thing that hurts me is that I don’t know how to run it. There are a lot of things I can work on. You have to give it to these guys. They ran a good race. They all ran a good race today. I plan on [winning] the Nationals. You’ve got to go in to win period. In championship races, none of us settle for second or third. I expected to run faster, but it just didn’t happen.

Women’s 100 hurdles—Miesha McKelvy, 12.62 (#3 in the world) I don’t know what’s wrong. I’m so not happy with this race. But I will take the win. I didn’t feel normal out there. My coach and I have been working on some things. Maybe I am concentrating on what I need to work on. Monday, we spent a lot of hours studying tape. I am disappointed that I am not running fast. I want to run faster.

Jenny Adams, second in the 100 hurdles in 12.73 I am happy with the race. I am taking away a lot of positives. It’s all a part of the process of getting for (the US Nationals.) I am on pace to be ready for (the US Nationals).

Women’s High Jump—Amy Acuff, 6’ 5 ½” On the close miss at 1.99m: I don’t want happened on that attempt. I have to look at the film. The conditions were great. The wind was strong, but from the side. I am excited about Golden League. The women’s high jump with be an event. I expected a lot of us to jump high.

Women’s Discus—Susy Powell I was very happy with my mark today because the technique and the form was excellent. I’m focusing on staying healthy. My goal is to win the Nationals, I have a brief stint in Europe. I’d like to have a good showing in the top three at World’s.

Men’s shot put—John Godina, 67-9 ¾ I wasn’t very happy with my throw. Everything’s just a comeback right now. I feel like I’m making progress after my bad injury, though. I had some good warm-ups and I’m really excited to train. I’m just trying to settle everything and then make a push at the end of the year and hopefully win everything next year.

Adam Nelson, fourth at 65-11 I have a lot of work to do in two weeks. I know what I need to do. It’s a lot of little things. The speed is OK and the strength is fine. I just have to put it all together.

Men’s pole vault—Jeff Hartwig, 18-08.25 The winds were really difficult. It was mostly a crosswind, which is the worst. The conditions are very similar to what we’ll face at the Nationals. At least the wind was consistent here so we pretty much knew what to expect.

Women’s 800m—Michelle Ballentine , 2:01.62 It was my first time racing against Regina. I wanted to do my best time. I’m really pleased with the way things turned out. I’m always nervous and I like it when the competition is there so I can get out there and put a good effort.

Regina Jacobs I was pretty unhappy with my time. I wanted to run under two minutes. I think I was really tired this week after having run two weekends in a row. Today was more of just a training day than a racing day. But I’m glad it happened today and not on the Sunday at nationals.