NEW YORK - Marion Jones easily won the 100 meters at the Reebok Grand Prix on Saturday, crossing the line in 11.06 seconds to raucous cheers.

Marion Jones wins the women's 100m event of the Reebok Grand Prix , Saturday, June 3, 2006 , in New York.[AP]

The former Olympian beat a strong field that included world champion Lauryn Williams, top Jamaican Veronica Campbell and 2003 world champ Torri Edwards.

Meanwhile, Meseret Defar of Ethiopia set the world record in women's 5,000 in 14:24.53, breaking the mark of 14:24.68 set by Turkey's Elvan Abeylegesse in 2004.

When Jones took her place in the blocks on a cool and breezy night, the crowd cheered her.

After a false start sent the runners back to the blocks, Jones took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She got off to a good start, but was way ahead by 60 meters, winning her third meet of the year since she started her comeback following an 11-month absence during which she battled injuries and doping allegations.

"Overall I felt pretty good," Jones said. "The conditions weren't great, but any time you get a victory it's another step."

After her race, she waived and smiled to the crowd as she did a post-race interview. Campbell was second in 11.11. Williams was a disappointing fifth, finishing in 11.44.

Jones said she will run a 200-meter race in Europe before running in the 100 and 200 at the U.S. nationals in Indianapolis later this month.

In the men's 100, co-world record holder Justin Gatlin also won easily, clocking 9.87 in the final sprint event of the evening. American Tyson Gay was second in 10.04.

But all eyes were on the 30-year-old Jones in her first race in the United States in more than a year. Her time matched her fast mark of the year, which she first ran in her opening meet in Mexico last month.

Jones has had a tumultuous journey over the last few years. After winning five medals, including three gold, in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Jones took 2003 off to have her son. Things haven't quite been the same since then.

She was shut out of medals at the 2004 Athens Games, failing to make the team in the 100. She attempted to qualify for the U.S. world championships team in 2005, but walked off the track before the 100 preliminaries with a hip injury.

All the while, doping allegations have dogged her. Jones never has tested positive for drugs and repeatedly has denied using banned substances, but remains under investigation as part of the BALCO doping scandal. BALCO founder Victor Conte accused Jones of using banned substances.

Williams, who has been battling a respiratory infection since April, wasn't surprised with the way Jones performed.

"She won, right?" Williams said. "So she was excellent."

Gatlin, who shares the world record of 9.77 with Asafa Powell, hasn't run over 10 seconds this year. In similar conditions last week in Eugene, Ore., Gatlin won his 100 race in 9.88, tying the meet and Hayward Field record, before Powell won a separate 100 race in a wind-aided 9.93.

Running the final race of the night, Defar took command from the start and beat the field handily. Workitu Ayanu of Ethiopia was second in 14:50.51. Defar won Olympic gold in Athens in the 5,000 and finished second at the world championships last year.

Abraham Chebii of Kenya won an exciting 5,000, sprinting on the final lap to finish in 13:04.56, the fastest time recorded on American soil. The top four finishers were Kenyan.

Christian Cantwell won the shot put with a put of 71 feet, 1 1/2 inches. Reigning world champion Adam Nelson, a two-time Olympic silver medalist, had a disappointing performance, failing to notch a mark after four fouls.

In other events: LaShauntea Moore won the 200 in 22.89; Khadevis Robinson won the 800 in 1:45.66, the second-fastest time for an American this year; and Jamaican Danny McFarlane had the fastest time in the 400 hurdles, winning his heat in 49.27.