INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – With Marion Jones out of the meet, the spotlight turned to the young stars at the U.S. track and field championships.

Kerron Clement, Sanya Richards, Ginnie Powell and Chaunte Howard all were impressive winners Saturday. None is older than 22.

The defending U.S. champion Clement, just 20, chased down reigning world champion Bershawn Jackson at the finish to win the 400 hurdles in 47.39 seconds.

Jackson was second in 47.48. They were the two fastest times in the world this year.

Richards blew away the field to win the women’s 400 in a world-leading 49.27 seconds. The 21-year-old runner, aiming for Valerie Brisco’s American record of 48.83, has the three fastest times in the world this year.

“I definitely think it’s attainable,” she said of the record. “I think when I have only one round on a really good day, I’m definitely going to try for it and I know it’s going to happen.”

Powell set a collegiate record in winning the NCAA title for Southern California two weeks ago and has the two fastest times in the world this year. She barely held off Damu Cherry in the 100-meter hurdles to win her first U.S. title in 12.63. Cherry, back this season after a two-year suspension for testing positive for steroids, was second in 12.64.

Three-hundredths of a second separated the top three finishers. World champion Michelle Perry was third in 12.67. “It feels good to have a win in my first meet as a professional,” Powell said. “Everything’s been going really, really well. I don’t know what else to ask for.”

Chaunte Howard, 22, won her first U.S. high jump title with a personal-best 6 feet, 7 inches, then celebrated with a backward flip in front of the crowd.

Clement, who set the world indoor 400 record at age 18, stuttered his steps before the final hurdle, a common problem for him, but regained his footing and used his trademark late sprint to edge Jackson.

Richards – silver medalist in the 400 at last year’s world championships – had wanted a 200-400 double, but her coach Clyde Hart said the tight schedule made it impossible. She hopes the schedule will be more favorable next year.

Jeremy Wariner, world and Olympic champion in the 400, moved down to the 200 for this meet. In his absence, Andrew Rock edged Lashawn Merritt to win the 400 in 44.45 seconds. Rose Richmond won the women’s long jump at 22-9 as runner-up Tina Madison, the reigning world champion, fouled on her last five attempts.

Jones withdrew from the 200 meters just before the preliminaries, settling for the 100-meter title she won the previous night.

Jones warmed up but her agent, Charles Wells, said she decided her legs were too tired after running three rounds of the 100 on Friday.

She wasn’t the only big name to withdraw on Day 3 of the championships.

Ailing world champion Bryan Clay pulled out of the decathlon after failing to clear a height in the pole vault.

That cleared the way for Tom Pappas, the 2003 world champion, to win his fourth U.S. title. Injuries to his foot, shoulder, knee and groin had kept Pappas from completing a decathlon since the 2004 Olympic trials. He didn’t compete at all last year.

“The people I train with, I think, knew that I still had it in me,” Pappas said. “The others really didn’t know, and that’s understandable because I hadn’t done anything for two years.”

Clay, silver medalist at the Athens Olympics and two-time defending U.S. champion, had been treated for dehydration and low blood sugar after the first day of competition.

“This is more frustrating than disappointing,” Clay said. “I’d much rather give up my title after the 1,500 meters than like this.”

In the 400-hurdle prelims, Lashinda Demus ran the fastest time in the world this year at 53.50.

Wariner was the fastest qualifier in the 200 preliminaries in 20.28 seconds.

“I’ve always considered myself a sprinter. I love the 200,” he said. “It’s quick, and it shows your talent, speed and strength.”

Tiffany McWilliams withdrew from the 1,500 meters after she was struck by a car while crossing an Indianapolis street. Her agent said she was not seriously injured, but chose not to run.

Torri Edwards, 2003 world 100 champion and third in the 100 on Friday night, also pulled out of the 200.

In other finals:

-Russ Buller won the pole vault at 19- 1/4. Afterward, he emotionally thanked his younger brother Jordan, whom he had promised he would continue competing. In October, 2005, a short time after that promise, Jordan Buller was killed in a car crash.

-Treniere Clement defended her 1,500-meter title in 4:10.44.

-GiGi Johnson edged defending champion Hyleas Fountain to win the heptathlon, 6,183 points to 6,148.

-Aretha Thurmond won her third U.S. discus title with a throw of 205-1.

AP-ES-06-24-06 2041EDT