Drechsler’s Long Jump Is Second All-Time

Heike Drechsler of Germany continued her surprising comeback Wednesday, missing the world record in the women’s long jump by less than two inches with a leap of 24 feet 6 1/2 inches, matching the second-best performance in history. Drechsler, 27, a former world record-holder, threatened the mark of 24-8 1/4 set by Galina Chistyakova for the Soviet Union in 1988.

World champion Yobes Ondieki of Kenya ran the season’s fastest 5,000 meters, 13 minutes 3.58 seconds, in another standout showing at the Athletissima Grand Prix track meet in Lausanne, Switzerland. Kevin Young ran the season’s second-fastest 400 hurdles in 47.97, beating world champion Samuel Matete of Zambia, who was 0.21 seconds behind.