Track’s ‘Clown Prince’ Defeats Lewis In 200

Jon Drummond, the self-proclaimed “clown prince of track,” held off Carl Lewis, the sport’s king, to win the 200-meter dash Sunday at the Prefontaine Classic Grand Prix track and field meet.

“I’m definitely a spoiler,” Drummond said. “Just when you think you’re on top, a little guy like me shows up and beats you.”

Gwen Torrence continued her early-season dominance by winning the women’s 100 in 10.96 seconds. American Allen Johnson confirmed his status as an Olympic gold-medal contender by winning the 110 hurdles in 13.13 seconds, one of three 1996 world bests.

Lewis, an eight-time Olympic gold medalist, had been written off after a poor indoor season. But he said his confidence returned after a wind-aided 9.94 in the 100 last week at the Atlanta Grand Prix.

This time, Lewis drifted too far to the outside on the turn and couldn’t recover enough to catch Drummond, who won in a wind-aided 20.20 seconds.

Sonia O’Sullivan of Ireland ran away from American Lynn Jennings by 25 meters to win the women’s 3,000 in 8:39.33, the world’s fastest time in 1996.

Kenyan Paul Bitok won the men’s 5,000 in 13:08.29, a world best for the year by 12 seconds.