MONTE CARLO - OLYMPIC HEROES Deon Hemmings and James Beckford won their respective events at the Herculis track and field meet, the fourth of the International Amateur Athletic (IAAF) Golden League series, yesterday.

Hemmings, the Olympic 400 metres hurdles champion, clocked 53.74 to win her pet event ahead of the United States' Sandra Glover (53.96) and Tatyana Tereshchuk of Ukraine ended third in 54.42. Another Jamaican, Debbie Ann Parris, finished fifth in the event in 55.20, some way off fourth-placed Barbadian Andrea Blackett's 54.74.

Beckford, the Atlanta silver medallist who has been left off Jamaica's World Championship team for failing to attend national trials, took the men's long jump in 8.40 metres. Second went to Morocco's Younes Moudrik (8.20m), while talented Caymanian Kareem Streete finished third with a leap of 8.15m.

Several other Jamaicans claimed minor placings. They were Merlene Frazer (22.47) and Beverley McDonald (22.63), who claimed fourth and fifth respectively in the women's 200 metres won by the United States' Marion Jones in (22.15); Lorraine Graham(50.34), fourth-placed finisher in the women's 400 won by Australia's Cathy Freeman (49.76); and Delloreen Ennis-London (12.87), who claimed sixth in the women's 100 metres hurdles won by Nigerian Glorie Alozie (12.53).

Barbadian Obadele Thompson was out-classed by Maurice Greene and Frankie Fredericks while American sprint queen Jones led the chase towards a US$1 million jackpot as she cruised to her 20th consecutive 200 metre victory at the Golden League meet.

The night began with only four athletes Jones, Wilson Kipketer, Gabriela Szabo and Bernard Barmasai still in the running for athletics' big prize and ended the same way with all four collecting wins.

After four of seven Golden League meetings Jones' share of the US$1 million jackpot is looking more and more like money in the bank as the 23-year-old American, coasted to an easy win in 22.15 seconds to remain unbeaten in major competition since 1997.

"They pushed me a little bit today," said Jones, who is aiming for four gold medals at the world championships in Seville later this month. "Inger (Miller) has been running well but the win is the most important thing."

Kipketer, the 800 metre world record holder, kept his hopes of sharing in the jackpot alive but needed a season best time of 1:42.57 to stay in the hunt.

Japheth Kimutai, who nearly put an early end to Kipketer's bid for a big payday in Rome where he also pushed the Dane to a then season best effort, once again was the main threat but faded in the final few metres, crossing in 1:43.09.

"It's a world best performance and I'm so happy," said Kipketer, who made a triumphant return to competition on the same Stade Louis II track last year after missing most of the season battling malaria. "I'm taking it one race at a time so I'm not thinking about the jackpot yet."

World record holder Barmasai also stormed to a season best in the 3,000m steeplechase, crossing almost 12 seconds clear of Christopher Kosei in 7:58.98.

Szabo, who was forced to run a season best in the 3,000 metres in Paris two weeks ago, had a much easier time here, crossing 20 metres and two seconds clear of her nearest challenger, world champion Carla Sacramento of Spain.

Greene, the 100 metre world record holder, gave the United States a sweep of the sprints, going under 20 seconds for the first time this season as he took the 200 metres in 19.92 ahead of double Olympic silver medallist Fredericks (1993) and Thompson (20.11).