Courtesy: USATF

World champions Stacy Dragila (pictured) and Allen Johnson stayed golden at the Goodwill Games, winning the women's pole vault and men's 110m hurdles Wednesday night as Team USA brought home two gold, three silver and one bronze on the evening.

Though damp and chilly weather prevented any out-of-this world marks, the competition and near-capacity crowd of more than 37,500 at ANZ stadium were intense.

Johnson won the most nail-biting competition of the evening. Crashing several hurdles and nearly falling on the penultimate hurdle, the three-time World Champion pulled away from Olympic gold medalist Anier Garcia of Cuba in a sprint to the finish to win in 13.16. Garcia was second at 13.20, with Americans Larry Wade third (13.46), Terrence Trammell fourth (13.49), Mark Crear sixth (13.63) and Dawane Wallace eighth (13.68).

"It was tough," Johnson said. "My legs felt like spaghetti - I almost fell at the finish, but I managed to hold Garcia off. It was a classic battle."

Johnson has had a classic season. He finished fourth at the Olympics last year, running with a hamstring injury. The 1996 Olympic champion then suffered an ankle sprain during the indoor season. But he came back in impressive form outdoors, winning the U.S. title, World title, and a share of the Golden League jackpot.

"I'm really happy," said Johnson, who plans an assault on Colin Jackson's world record of 12.91 next season. "I went through a lot earlier in the season. I'm really satisfied, I feel fulfilled."

Dragila was also feeling satisfied after her pole vault victory, if not with her winning height. The World and Olympic champion and world record holder was the only one of the top three vaulters to clear 4.55m/14-11, winning a competition that she had led throughout the night. Svetlana Feofanova of Russia and Tatiana Grigorieva of Australia cleared 4.45m/14-7.25 to finish second and third, respectively. Kellie Suttle and Mary Sauer were fifth and sixth, respectively, with clearances of 4.20m/13- 9.25. Mel Mueller was seventh at 4.05m/13-3.5.

"I just couldn't get off the ground," Dragila said. "I couldn't get my tires pumped up. .. I just had to dig deep inside and do what I do best. I got the win, and I'll take it."

Dwain Chambers of Great Britain came away with a surprise victory in the men's 100m, beating World Championships silver medalist Tim Montgomery with a time of 10.11 to Montgomery's 10.27. Matt Shirvington was third in 10.30.

"It was very cold out there," Montgomery said. "The times were terrible. The stronger guys were better today. It wasn't about speed, it was about strength ... and I lost."

For the Americans, Dennis Mitchell was sixth in 10.46 and J.J. Johnson finished eighth at 10.51. World Championships bronze medalist Bernard Williams withdrew from the race with a strained left groin, an injury similar to the one that kept him from competing in the 200m at the GMC Envoy USA Outdoor Championships in June.

Tonja Buford Bailey, fourth at the World Championships by half an eyelash, went out uncharacteristically fast in the women's 400m hurdles. The move paid off for the 1996 Olympic bronze medalist, who came off the curve first running out of lane 7, and finished second in 54.75 seconds. Tatyana Tereshchuk- Antipova of Ukraine was first in 54.47, and Yuliya Nosova of Russia was third in 55.27. Sandra Glover fell on the last hurdle, eventually jogging in far behind the field.

"I wanted to win that one," said a smiling Buford-Bailey, who finished ahead of world champion Nezha Bidouane of Morocco. "Coming off the curve, I thought, 'why am I still leading?' I'm usually in fifth or sixth off the curve. This is the same field we've been running against all summer. I've got a lot of thirds (during the summer) but this is my first second."

Kelli White also picked up a silver medal for the Team USA women, placing second in the 200m in 23.08. The World Championships bronze medalist ran a speedy curve, but the toll of cold weather and arriving in Australia just the day before her race took its toll down the stretch.

"I was struggling too much down the straight," said White, who finished behind Debbie Ferguson of the Bahamas (22.80). "I thought, 'I feel good,' but I couldn't maintain it."

After sitting in third throughout the evening, DeDee Nathan finished fourth in the heptathlon with a season-best total of 6275 points. The two-time U.S. champion and 1998 Goodwill silver medalist turned in performances of 6.32m/20-9 in the long jump (949 points), 44.67m/146-6 in the javelin (757 pts) and 2:17.79 in the 800m (854). Natalya Roshchupkina of Russia won the gold with 6373 points.

In other events, Adam Setliff finished just out of the medals in the men's discus, placing fourth at 63.01m/206-8. John Godina was eight at 61.05m/200-3, and Andy Bloom did not achieve a mark. Frantz Kruger of South Africa won the event at 67.84m/222- 7.

William Yiampoy of Kenya won the men's 800m in 1:46.48, with David Krummenacker fifth (1:47.39) and Trinity Gray 7th (1:47.70). Tim Broe led the first four laps of the men's 3,000m steeplechase, ending fifth in 8:20.75 with Tom Chorny eighth in 9:24.26. New world record holder Brahim Boulami of Morocco (8:17.73) beat World and Olympic champion Reuben Kosgei of Kenya (8:18.63) for the victory.

Connie Price-Smith was eighth (16.63m/54-6.75) and Seilala Sua was ninth (16.52m/54-2.5) in the women's shot put, behind winner Larisa Peleshenko of Russia (18.65m/61-2.25).

Goodwill Games track and field competition continues Thursday with the men's finals in the 200m, mile, 5,000m, long jump, javelin and the first day of the decathlon. Women's finals are in the mile, 20k walk, high jump, triple jump and discus.