Jones's spree for three ends in failure

Another burning evening in Edmonton yesterday, perfect for more sparks on the track. Blazing the trail this time was Zhanna Pintusevich-Block, who produced a shock win over Marion Jones in the 100 metres final to send these World Championships into high-decibel mode.

All summer it seemed a formality that Jones would follow her compatriot Maurice Greene and claim her third successive world title, but the powerful Ukrainian athlete had other ideas, outleaning the American 10.82 to 10.85 seconds - the fastest time in the world this year.

The impact of the shock was reduced from events in the semi-final, where the Ukrainian did similar to hand Jones her first defeat in 55 consecutive 100 metre races, a succession of wins that went back to 1997. Jones had a look of concern on her face after that and throughout the final, but there would be no excuses.

"Well of course I'm disappointed but I'm not a sore loser," she said. "She was just the better sprinter on the day."

And the 29-year-old Ukrainian is no stranger to the American. Back in Athens in 1997, when Jones first burst onto the world stage, it was Pintusevich-Block who had erroneously thought she had won the gold ahead - only to realise on her lap of honour that she hadn't.

Jones has increased that invincibility ever since - winning both sprints in Sydney last year - but the power of Pintusevich-Block's start here left her rivals chasing in vain. Ekaterini Thanou of Greece held on for bronze in 10.91 seconds, while Chandra Sturrup of the Bahamas was further back in fourth in 11.02.

Taking the decibel level even higher was Avard Moncur, the unheralded Bahamas athlete who became successor to the great Michael Johnson as world 400 metre champion. For the first time, eight different nations contested the final and it was a world class occasion to savour.

Moncur, who is based at college in America and missed the final in Sydney by 0.01 of a second, ran a perfect race to win 44.64 seconds, but the big surprise was the German Ingor Schultz who took silver in 44.87.

With Gregory Haughton of the Bahamas taking bronze (44.98), it meant there was no room for the Americans. Antonio Pettigrew was expected to challenge but left his finish too late, taking fourth in 44.99.

Earlier in the night, there was the prospect of some Irish fire as Karen Shinkins attempted to reach the women's 400 metre final, but that proved a step too far as she came home sixth in her semi-final. The time of 51.66 seconds also left her short of the quest for an improvement on her Irish record.

With the win going to Germany's Grit Breuer in 50.32, Shinkins, running in lane two, was left chasing her best of 51.07 and although she finished strong, the conservative start ultimately came against her record hopes.

Meanwhile, Johnathan Edwards struck gold as he powered his way to the triple jump world title. He lived up to his billing as hot favourite for this event by winning with a jump of 17.92 metres to add the world title to his Olympic crown.

This evening's programme has been termed distance night, as Paula Radcliffe, among others, goes in search of her first world title on the track in the 10,000 metres. But with the two Ethiopians, Olympic champion Derartu Tula and defending world champion Gete Wami, among the challengers, it seems inevitable the British Athlete may have to settle for another minor placing.

There is also the promise of blood spilling in the 1500 metres with the Romanians Gabriela Szabo and Violeta Beclea-Szekely not just competing for the gold medal, but also the latest round of their bitter rivalry