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Friday, September 22
First two heats no problem for U.S. pair
Associated Press
SYDNEY, Australia -- Marion Jones could have coasted.
Instead, she put on a show of speed on her way to the semifinals of
the women's 100.
Jones underlined her quest for five gold medals at the Sydney
Games by running the second-fastest 100 of the year, winning her
second-round heat Friday in 10.83 seconds. The only faster time
this year was 10.78, run by Jones in London on Aug. 5 and Berlin on
Sept. 1.
|  | | Maurice Greene had no problems advancing out of his first two heats in the 100 meters. |
"Perhaps if our semis tomorrow were a bit earlier, I would have
laid back a little bit," she said. "We have all day tomorrow to
kind of rest and relax. That's why I decided tonight, 'Aw, put one
out there."'
Maurice Greene also had two early-round victories to reach the men's
100 semifinals Saturday. His time of 10.10 seconds in the second
round was the second fastest of the day -- only Obadele Thompson was
quicker at 10.04.
Michael Johnson and Cathy Freeman had first-round victories in the
400 as track and field events began Friday.
Jones and Greene, both of whom were merely spectators at the
1996 Atlanta Games, showed why they're clear favorites in Sydney.
Jones qualified for U.S. relay teams for the 1992 Barcelona
Games, but decided not to go. A broken bone in her foot ended her
hopes of competing at Atlanta four years ago.
"I feel great, I feel great. You know, it's been a long time. I
was just waiting and watching. But it's here now, so no more
excuses," said Jones, who took it easy in her first-round heat.
"I'm having a ball. I'm 24 years old, I'm in Sydney, I'm running
great."
Joining Jones in the semifinals of the women's 100 was U.S.
teammate Chryste Gaines. But Torri Edwards, a late replacement for
the injured Inger Miller, was fifth in her second-round heat and
failed to advance.
Also reaching the semifinals was Merlene Ottey, a seven-time
Olympic medalist who substituted at the last minute for teammate
Peta-Gaye Dowdie -- leading to protests by some Jamaican team
members.
After Greene moved into the semifinals, he waited near the
finish line for Sydney housemate and training partner Ato Boldon,
who won his heat in 10.11 seconds. Also advancing to the semifinals
were Americans Jon Drummond and Curtis Johnson.
But defending champion Donovan Bailey, who spent the past few
days battling the flu, ran out of steam in his second-round heat
and was eliminated.
Greene, who holds the world record of 9.79 seconds, failed to
qualify for the 1996 Olympics and drove 18 hours from his home in
Kansas City to Atlanta to see the games. During the 100 final, he
sat in the stands and cried uncontrollably.
"I'm not putting too much pressure on myself, even though
there's a lot of pressure out here," Greene said Friday.
Arsi Harju of Finland won gold in the men's shot put with a toss
of 69 feet, 10¼ inches. The other two medals were taken by
Americans -- Adam Nelson was second with a throw of 69-7 and 1996
silver medalist John Godina won bronze with 69-6¾.
Godina was a late replacement for U.S. teammate C.J. Hunter, the
reigning world champion. Hunter dropped out after arthroscopic knee
surgery.
Charles Austin, the defending champion in the men's high jump,
failed to advance out of the qualifying round. But 1992 Olympic
champ Javier Sotomayor, who returned to competition in mid-August
after track and field officials cut in half a two-year ban for
cocaine use, reached the high jump final.
Freeman is seeking to become the first Aborigine to win an
individual Olympic gold medal. She received thunderous applause
from her fellow Australians in the 110,000-seat Olympic Stadium.
Freeman won her heat in 51.63 seconds. She has not lost a
400-meter race in three years and is even more of a favorite at the
Sydney Games now that two-time defending champion Marie-Jose Perec
has fled the Olympics.
Also advancing to the second round of the women's 400 were
Americans LaTasha Colander-Richardson and Monique Hennagan.
There was an empty spot in lane three of the fifth heat of the
400. That spot would have been taken by Perec, who left Sydney a
day earlier after claiming she was threatened by an unidentified
man.
In the first-round heat of the men's 400, Johnson glanced to his
left several times down the closing stretch to see if anyone was
close behind. He didn't need to bother. He cruised to an easy
victory in 45.25 seconds.
Johnson is an overwhelming favorite to become the first man to
win the event in consecutive Olympics.
Joining Johnson in the second round Saturday were U.S. teammates
Alvin Harrison and Antonio Pettigrew, who also won their heats.
Harrison, wearing a full body suit and long sleeves on a hot, sunny
day, had the fastest qualifying time of 44.96.
The Clark clan had a good day in the women's 800 meters. Joetta
Clark-Diggs, her kid sister, Hazel Clark, and their sister-in-law,
Jearl Miles-Clark, all easily advanced to the semifinals.
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ALSO SEE
Track and field results
Opening day a hit for track fans
Aussie papers say Perec 'running scared' of Freeman
On a fine line, walker disqualified for running
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