We have studied hadronic events fi om e(+)e(-) annihilation data at centre-
of-mass energies of root s = 172. 183 and 189 GeV. The total integrated lum
inosity of the three samples, measured with the OPAL detector, corresponds
to 250 pb(-1). We present distributions of event shape variables, charged p
article multiplicity and momentum, measured separately in the three data sa
mples. From these we extract measurements of the strong coupling a,, the me
an charged particle multiplicity (n(ch)) and the peak position xi(0) in the
xi(p) = ln(1/x(p)) distribution. In general the data are described well by
analytic QCD calculations and Monte Carlo models. Our measured values of a
lpha(s), (n(ch)) and xi(0) are consistent with previous determinations at r
oot s = M(Z)o.