Jones says she's no "superwoman"

Triple Olympic champion Marion Jones said on Tuesday that she was "not superwoman" following her first 100 metres defeat since 1997 at the world championships in Edmonton last week.

Zhanna Pintusevich-Block of the Ukraine turned the formbook upside down by beating the American favourite by one-hundredth of a second, handing Jones her first defeat in 42 finals.

"I'm not superwoman even though I hadn't been beaten for a couple of years going into Edmonton. I was quite confident and wanted to win gold and run fast but unfortunately it didn't happen," Jones told reporters in a teleconference from Zurich.

"I wanted to leave Edmonton with three gold medals and obviously that didn't happen.

Jones clocked 10.85 in second place in her first defeat in a final since she lost to Jamaican Merlene Ottey in September 1997, the year she won her first world title.

"It was disappointing to lose a race as expectations were there but I guess I've done that to myself because I've won so many races in the past.

"I have to agree that it wasn't my best race, it was very poor but you learn to deal with it."

Jones redeemed herself in Edmonton by winning the 200 metres and anchoring the United States to the gold medal in the 4x100 metres relay but may face another showdown with Pintusevich-Block in Zurich this week.

The Ukraine has already indicated she wants to prove that her victory, in a personal best of 10.82 seconds, was not a fluke.

"I'm incredibly motivated and will probably meet Zhanna this week in Zurich and want to improve on my silver at world championships," said Jones.

"I don't want to get complacent so if I don't run faster I will be disappointed as I know I'm capable of running faster than I did at Edmonton."

GOODWILL GAMES

The American, whose defeat was the biggest upset at the Edmonton championships, then heads for the Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia later this month to determine this year's fastest woman.

It will be Jones's first visit to Australia since she won five medals at the Sydney Olympics last year. The Games also proved to be eventful off the track as the IOC announced her husband C.J. Hunter -- now separated from Jones -- had returned a positive dope test for the banned steroid nandrolone.

But Jones said she was looking forward to returning to Australia.

"My experience in Sydney was not tainted in the least. I'm going to Australia with an open mind," added Jones, who will only be competing in the 100 metres in Brisbane.

"The Goodwill Games will be my last event of the season so I will be motivated to do well there.

"If I do well in Australia, it will make up a little bit for Edmonton but the title world champion goes a long way.

"However, the last meet is what people remember and that will go a long way in terms of preparation for next season.

"The defeat is now behind me and I only look to future. I can't change what happened at the worlds.

"I don't think negatively and I will only focus on one thing and that is to cross the finish line first."