GOTHENBURG.

Aug 7: The golden long Jumping era of Heike Drechsler

and Jackie Joyner-Kersee appears finally to have ended, report agencies.

"I think it is probably over (for them),” said new world champion Fiona May. a former Briton who now competes for Italy, "Jackie is over 30 and Heike is 30 or so. They are a bit tired. It is harder when you get older.

"There is a new generation of long Jumpers and we hope to Jump as far as they did."

In a final on Sunday made difficult by the wind, defending champion Drechsler failed to qualify for the final three rounds and finished ninth after only one valid jump of 6.64 metres.

The 30-year-old German, the youngest ever world champion when she won the long Jump title at the inaugural championships in Helsinki 12 years ago, failed to register a jump in her first two attempts then went for safety in her third effort.

Former Olympic champion Joyner-Kersee. who won the bronze medal for the Untied States behind Drechsler at the 1992 Barcelona

Olympics, finished sixth with a wind-assisted 6.74 metres.

The 33-year-old American's efforts were not enough to stop the 25-year-old May winning the gold with a wind-assisted 6.98. ahead of Cuban Niurka Montalov and Russian Irina Mushailova.

The result was a surprise

Olympic titles in the long Jump only, as well as a bunch of other medals.

Drechsler also won the long jump gold medal in 1993. the silver medal in 1987 and the bronze medal in 1987. The German was the Olympic champion in 1992 and silver medalist in 1988.

for Drechsler. Although she has suffered private problems with the break-up of her marriage making front page news in recent months, the former East German came into the competition in good shape.

"I have to look at it in a relaxed way although it is unusual to be without a medal." she said. "It's a shame because 1 had good form... what happened before the championships had an inlluence but the failure happened here in the pit."

Between them. Drechsler and Joyner-Kersee have a total of four world and two

Her American rival won the long jump at the 1988 Olympics and a bronze in 1992. plus the 1987 and 1991 World Championship titles.

All that experience came to nothing Sunday in the windswept Ullevi stadium.

Meanwhile. American Gail Devers successfully defended her crown in the women's 100 metres hurdles. She swept to victory clocking 12.68 seconds, ahead of her closest rival, Olga Shishina of Kazakhstan, second in 12.80.

Yuliya Graudyn of Russia won the bronze in 12.85 seconds.