Olympic decathlon champion Dan O'Brien, competing for the first time since winning the gold medal in Atlanta two years ago, confirmed his enduring class on the second day of the Goodwill Games in New York. The American world record holder was on world record pace throughout the second day and his score of 8,425 after nine of the 10 disciplines was the highest ever recorded.

O'Brien needed to clock four minutes 45.92 seconds in the 1,500 metres, the final event of the competition, to break his own world record, but the odds were against him in a race he clearly dislikes. Instead he jogged around the track in five minutes 08.77 for a total of 8,755, a Goodwill Games record and his sixth best.

A head wind in the 100 metres and high hurdles probably cost O'Brien the record and his remarkable form over the two days of competition confirmed he is still the world's best multi-event athlete.

"It was sweet," O'Brien said afterwards. "I didn't know what my fitness level was coming into competition. With a better 400 and 1,500, I will get the world record."

Marion Jones completed a 100200 double with a year's best of 21.80, then caused a brief stir when she said some of her opponents had been "trash talking".

Asked to explain, Jones said a small group of runners, who she declined to identify, had tried to upset her in order to gain a mental advantage. "They say they know my secrets, it's a bit vexing," she said.

"I am looking forward to going back to Europe and running fast and jumping far," Jones added.