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BERLIN (AP) — Dawn Harper-Nelson led an American 1-2 in the women's 100-meter hurdles and compatriot Candyce McGrone claimed victory in the 100 sprint at the ISTAF athletics meet Sunday.
Harper-Nelson, the 2008 Olympic champion, was keen to bounce back after clattering into a hurdle and falling in her semifinal at the world championships in Beijing. She clocked 12.82 to edge Sharika Nelvis by two hundredths of a second. European champion Tiffany Porter of Britain was third at the IAAF Word Challenge meet.
"It was very difficult for me to recover after Beijing and my fall. I felt physically OK but mentally it was tough," Harper-Nelson said. "I prayed a lot and it seemed to help. You know, I love hurdles and always want to show the best of me."
McGrone won the sprint in 11.11, beating Marie-Josee Ta Lou of Ivory Coast by one tenth of a second and fellow American Barbara Pierre by two tenths.
"It's my first victory this season, very precious," said McGrone, who hoped it would give her a "positive kick" for "the upcoming season when I want to fight for the spot in the Olympic team."
Jeneba Tarmoh of the U.S. was fourth, while Michelle-Lee Ahye of Trinidad and Tobago hobbled over the line after pulling up with an injury.
Kim Collins of Saint Kitts and Nevis won the men's 100 in 10.13, edging American Isiah Young by four hundredths of a second.
"I really needed this to boost my self-confidence after what happened in China," said Collins, the 2003 world champion, who failed to emerge from his heat at the Worlds. "My body and soul needed to recover from it."
Andrew Riley of Jamaica celebrated his 27th birthday by winning the 110 hurdles in 13.40, ahead of Shane Brathwaite of Barbados.
Nijel Amos of Botswana defeated world silver medalist Adam Kszczot of Poland in the men's 800, and Paul Kipsiele Koech of Kenya edged Americans Hassan Mead and Bernard Lagat to win the men's 5000.
Virginia Nyambura Nganga of Kenya ran a world leading 6:02.16 in the women's 2000 steeplechase, ahead of compatriot Beatrice Chepkoech, while Gesa Felicitas Krause delighted the home fans with a German record of 6:04.20.
Lynsey Sharp of Britain ran a personal best of 1:57.71 to beat German champion Fabienne Kohlmann and world champion Marina Arzamasova in the women's 800.
"I train in such weather so I liked it," Sharp said of the cold and rainy conditions.
Israel's Marharyta Dorozhon beat German world champion Katharina Molitor to win the women's javelin, but there were no issues for Christina Schwanitz in the shot put. The German world champion threw 19.66 meters to beat Americans Michelle Carter and Tia Brooks, who threw 19.19 and 18.31, respectively.
Germany's Katrin Klaas took advantage of world record-holder Anita Wlodarczyk's late withdrawal to win the women's hammer with a throw of 72.09. Amber Campbell of the U.S. was second with 70.94.
Tom Walsh of New Zealand beat David Storl of Germany to win the men's shot put with a throw of 20.71, and Poland's Piotr Lisek won an exciting pole vault by soaring 5.74 meters. World record holder Renaud Lavillenie failed to make a height, failing twice at 5.54 and once at 5.64.
World champion Piotr Malachowski won the discus ahead of Germany's Christoph Harting and Polish compatriot Robert Urbanek, while Serbia's Ivana Spanovic won the women's long jump.
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