Jones bounces back from defeat with 200 win

Olympic champion Marion Jones, who complained of feeling 'flat' in a rare defeat in the world 100 metres final, got her sprinting back in tune with a virtuoso display in her first 200 triumph at a world championships on Friday.

Jones, who suffered her first loss in a 100 final for four years at the hands of Ukraine's Zhanna Pintusevich-Block on Monday, ran a strong bend and kept her form in the second half of the race to win in 22.39 seconds.

The American was put under pressure all the way down the home straight, however, by silver medallist Debbie Ferguson of the Bahamas who clocked 22.52 in second, dipping ahead of American Kelli White who took the bronze in 22.56.

But Jones held on in the final metres to win with a stride to spare in front of the biggest crowd at the championships.

For the first time at the event there was a 'big night' atmosphere in the Commonwealth Stadium on a warm, calm evening that was perfect for sprinting.

Injury stopped Jones from completing a sprint double after she won the 100 metres at the last world championships in Seville in 1999. On Monday she had looked far from her best and had to settle for silver.

But the Olympic champion stepped on to the track, smiled and waved at the crowd and then produced a composed display of running.

The diva of track and field sang sweetly again. But she admitted afterwards that she was nervous inside because she had a point to prove.

"I definitely had something to prove today," she said. "I like to cross the finish line first and I was disappointed after the 100. It was important that I came out her today and proved that I can still cross the finishing line first.

"I could feel Debbie coming (near the finish) and I was getting tired. But I ran a strong curve. Before the race I was very emotional. I really wanted this."

She added: "I came here to win the 100, 200 and the relay. The time wasn't fast but a gold is a gold."