Edwards Has Her Own Remedy

For Justin Gatlin and Allyson Felix, who earned shiny medals and peace of mind at the Athens Olympics, the Mount San Antonio College Relays were a lark. Savoring the sunshine and lush surroundings of Hilmer Lodge Stadium on Saturday, they began a gentle buildup to busy summer schedules.

But the day had a serious purpose for Torri Edwards, who returned to outdoor competition after serving a 15-month suspension for ingesting the banned stimulant nikethamide.

Edwards, a graduate of Pomona High and USC, won the women’s 200-meter invitational in 22.98 seconds. It wasn’t a spectacular time for Edwards, the 2003 world 100-meter champion and 200-meter runner-up. Yet, it was a significant step in reviving her career after she unknowingly took the drug in a cold remedy and was ineligible for the Athens Games.

“I don’t necessarily try to forget the experience. I’ve learned and grown and become a better athlete because of it,” said Edwards, whose original two-year ban was shortened last November after the International Association of Athletics Federations reduced the sanction for nikethamide use to a maximum of one year, longer than she’d already served.

“Things happen like that in life. It made me stronger in the end.”

She was strong enough physically to also run the second leg of HSInternational’s 400-meter relay, which finished second to the Felix-anchored USA Red team. Later, Edwards proved her mental strength when she shrugged off a mix-up over lane assignments in the 200 and moved from Lane 7 to Lane 4 moments before the start

“It was a decent time,” Edwards said of her race, in which she held off Geraldine Pillay of South Africa and UCLA alumna Monique Henderson, who finished in 23.00 and 23.12, respectively.

“I want to prove to myself I can come back and become a world-class athlete.”

Gatlin has two years’ worth of hardware to prove his elite status. The 2005 U.S. and world champion in the 100 and 200, Olympic gold medalist in the 100, bronze medalist in the 200 and silver medalist in the 400-meter relay, he joked that this season will be difficult because there are no world championships or Olympics.

“I like winning gold medals,” said Gatlin, who ran a blazing anchor leg for Sprint Capitol’s 400-meter relay team but couldn’t catch up to Arkansas. Trell Kimmons, Wallace Spearmon, Tyson Gay and Aaron Armstrong won in 38.19 seconds, to 38.39 for Josh Norman, Rodney Martin, Shawn Crawford and Gatlin.

“I think it’s going to be exciting because I have a competitive spirit as well,” Gatlin added. “And whatever it takes to be out there and win, I’m going to go out there and do it, no matter if it’s the gold medal or just bragging rights.”

He also said he’d welcome a chance to face Asafa Powell and break the Jamaican’s world record of 9.77.

“I’d race Asafa every day if I could. It’s exciting,” Gatlin said. “It’s someone I know that can put up a great fight and he’s not scared to run when he gets to the line. And that’s what I want. I want a great challenge.”

Felix, the 2005 U.S. and world champion in the 200 and Athens silver medalist, welcomes the prospect of a relatively easy year.

“I just wanted to come out here and have fun,” said Felix, who teamed with Muna Lee, Henderson and Michelle Perry to win the 400 relay in 42.93 seconds, ahead of HSInternational’s 43.41.

“It’s kind of an off year, a learning year.”

In other notable performances, U.S. indoor champion Akiba McKinney of San Diego won the long jump with a personal-best leap of 22 feet 5 inches (6.83 meters), second-longest in the world this season.... Chaunte Howard won the high jump with a personal best of 6-6 3/4 .... USC senior Ginnie Powell won the invitational 100-meter hurdles in a wind-assisted 12.68 seconds. A fast-closing Angela Whyte of Canada was second in 12.70, with Candice Davis of USC third in 13.05.

Khadevis Robinson won the men’s 800 in 1:44.98, a world-leading time that set meet and stadium records.... USC senior Jesse Williams won the high jump, matching his personal-best height of 7-6 1/2 .