Jones takes gold number one

Jones claims the first in her hunt for five golds

Olympic legend in the making Marion Jones destroyed the field in the women's 100 metres on Saturday.

The American sprinter claimed the first of the five golds she is chasing in Sydney in a superb time of 10.75 seconds.

Trailing nearly half a second behind - the biggest winning margin since 1952 - was Ekaterini Thanou of Greece, with the bronze medal going to Jamaican Tanya Lawrence.

Merlene Ottey, Lawrence's more celebrated team-mate, could only manage fourth place and missed out on her eighth Olympic medal.

I wasn't nervous before the start, I just wanted to start the race. This is great

  Marion Jones

A delighted Jones told the BBC that her victory was the culmination of four years work.

"You guys have watched me get better over the years and now it has happened," she said.

"I wasn't nervous before the start, I just wanted to start the race. This is great."

Golden haul

Jones is hoping to claim a sprint double and also take gold in the long jump and both relays - the 4x100m and the 4x400m.

Jones now has a three-day break before she resumes her programme on Wednesday with the long jump qualifying round and the opening round of the 200 metres.

Women's 100m Final:

1. Marion Jones (USA) 10.75
2. Ekaterini Thanou (GRE) 11.12
3. Tanya Lawrence (JAM) 11.18
4. Merlene Ottey (JAM) 11.19
5. Zhanna Pintusevych (UKR) 11.20
6. Chandra Sturrup (BAH) 11.21
7. Savetheda Fynes (BAH) 11.22
8. Debbie Ferguson (BAH) 11.29