Claye wins triple jump, hurdler Faulk shines

Will Claye improved on his 2012 world-leading triple jump Saturday with a leap of 17.63 meters, winning the US indoor athletics championships title and booking a world indoors berth.

It was a big day for other top US performers, as well. Dexter Faulk clocked 7.40sec in the heats of the men's 60m hurdles, his time supplanting the 7.41 of China's Liu Xiang as the best in the world this year.

Justin Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic 100m champion, who had a four-year doping suspension, continued his dash down the comeback path with a 6.51 in the first round of the 60m.

Tianna Madison, the former long jump world champion, was the fastest qualifier in the women's 60m at 7.10. The hurdlers and sprinters will return to the Albuquerque Convention Center on Sunday for the semi-finals and finals.

Field events dominated the opening day finals.