At these the first indoor championships ever Merlene Ottey won a silver medal at the 200 metre distance and finished fourth over 60 metres.

60 metres:
1. Nelli Cooman 7.08 sec.
2. Anelia Nuneva 7.10 sec.*
3. Angela Bailey 7.12 sec.
4. Merlene Ottey 7.13 sec.
5. Michelle Burrell 7.19 sec.
* DQ Angela Issajenko

(Angela Issajenko placed 2nd in 7.08 seconds, but was later disqualified for use of drugs)

200 metres:
1. Heike Drechsler 22.27 sec.
2. Merlene Ottey 22.66 sec.
3. Grace Jackson 23.21 sec.

Merlene winning an indoor race in Sindelfingen (Germany) in 1999

After 10 seasons of participation in several international championships Merlene Otttey finally succeeded by winning her first gold medal over 200 metres. She also got another bronze medal (60 metres) to go with her already big collection.

Merlene Ottey wins a 60 metre race in Piraeus (Greece) in 1999

60 metres:
1. Nelli Cooman 7.05 sec.
2. Gwen Torrence 7.07 sec.
3. Merlene Ottey 7.10 sec.
4. Liliana Allen 7.16 sec.
5. Laurence Bily 7.19 sec.

200 metres:
1. Merlene Ottey 22.34 sec.
2. Grace Jackson 22.95 sec.
3. Kovtun 23.28 sec.

Merlene Ottey and Irina Privalova was the absolute top names in the womens sprinting events as they divided gold and silver over the distances 60 and 200 metres with Privaloa winning the gold medal in the most prestigeous 60 metre event.

Merlene Ottey runing a 60 metre heat in Sevilla

60 metres:
1. Irina Privalova 7.02 sec.
2. Merlene Ottey 7.08 sec.
3. Liliana Allen 7.12 sec.
4. Gwen Torrence 7.13 sec.
5. Pauline Davis 7.16 sec.
6. Katrin Krabbe 7.20 sec.

200 metres:
1. Merlene Ottey 22.24 sec.
2. Irina Privalova 22.41 sec.
3. Grit Breuer 22.58 sec.

Merlene Ottey did not participate at these championships.

60 metres:
1. Gail Devers 6.95 sec.
2. Irina Privalova 6.97 sec.
3. Zhanna Pintusevich 7.21 sec. 

200 metres:
1. Irina Privalova 22.15 sec.
2. Melinda Gainsford 22.73 sec.
3. Natalia Voronova 22.90 sec.

Merlene Ottey and Irina Privalova avoided going up against each other at these championships. So Ottey won the gold medal over 60 metres rather easy, while Privalova concentrated on winning the gold over 400 metres – leaving the quest for the 200 metre gold to a competition between some of the smaller names in womens sprinting.

Merlene celebrating a win indoors in Piraeus (Greece) in 1999

60 metres:
1. Merlene Ottey 6.97 sec.
2. Melanie Paschke 7.10 sec.
3. Carlette Guidry-White 7.11 sec.
4. Liliana Allen 7.13 sec.
5. Beverly McDonald 7.16 sec.
6. Nelli Cooman 7.17 sec.

200 metres:
1. Melinda Gainsford 22.64 sec.
2. Pauline Davis 22.68 sec.
3. Natalia Voronova 23.01 sec.

Merlene Ottey did not participate at these championships.

60 metres:
1. Gail Devers 7.06 sec.
2. Chandra Sturrup 7.15 sec.
3. Frédérique Bangue 7.17 sec.
4. Chioma Ajunwa 7.19 sec.
5. Ekaterini Thanou
6. Odiah Sidibé
DNF Irina Privalova (injured in final)

200 metres:
1. Ekaterina Koffa 22.76 sec.
2. Juliet Cuthbert 22.77 sec.
3. Svetlana Goncharenko 22.85 sec.

Merlene Ottey did not participate at these championships as she wanted to concentrate fully on the outdoor world championships later in the season.

60 metres:
1. Ekaterini Thanou 6.96 sec.
2. Gail Devers 7.02 sec.
3. Inger Miller 7.06 sec.
4. Philomina Mensah 7.07 sec.
5. Sevatheda Fynes 7.09 sec.
6. Joan Uduak Ekah 7.10 sec.
7. Petya Pendareva 7.12 sec.
8. Endurance Ojokolo 7.19 sec.

200 metres:
1. Ionela Tirlea 22.39 sec.
2. Svetlana Goncharenko 22.69 sec.
3. Pauline Davis 22.70 sec.
4. Oksana Dyachenko-Ekk 23.03 sec.  
5. Juliet Campell 23.11 sec.
6. Birgit Rockmeier 23.74 sec.

Merlene Ottey did not participate at these championships due to injury.

60 metres:
1. Chandra Sturrup (BAH) 7.05 sec.
2. Angela Williams (USA) 7.09 sec.
3. Chryste Gaines (USA) 7.12 sec.
4. Sevatheda Fynes (BAH) 7.15 sec.
5. Mercy Nku (NIG) 7.15 sec.
6. Petya Pendareva (BUL) 7.16 sec.
7. Li Xuemei (CHN) 7.20 sec.
8. Endurance Ojokolo (NIG) 7.23 sec.

200 metres:

16 years after her debut at the first World Indoor Championships Merlene Ottey decided to give it a chance again. At the age of 42 she cruised through the heats beating several top names. But in the final on the same day she had to settle for fourth place after Block, Williams and Edwards, who all got a better start than Ottey. 

60 metres:
1. Zhanna Block (UKR): 7.04 sec. (WL)
2. Angela Williams (USA): 7.16 sec. (SB)
3. Torri Edwards (USA): 7.17 sec. (PB)
4. Merlene Ottey (SLO): 7.20 sec.
5. Karin Mayr-Krifka (AUT): 7.23 sec.
6. Marina Kislova (RUS): 7.26 sec.
7. Joice Maduaka (GBR): 7.34 sec.
-. Sevatheda Fynes (BAH): DNS

200 metres:
1. Michelle Collins (USA): 22.18 sec. (WL/CR)
2. Muriel Hurtis (FRA): 

Zhanna Block wins the women's 60 metre final in Birmingham (Merlene Ottey in blue on lane 5).