Athletics: US stars out of the running

SACRAMENTO - The world's best 200m sprinters will not be renewing their rivalry in Sydney.

World record-holder Michael Johnson and world champion Maurice Greene didn't make it to the finish line at the United States Olympic trials yesterday, ending their hopes of being in the Games line-up in September.

Under the cut-throat United States trials system, only the top three finishers make the American team, regardless of their stature.

Johnson, aged 32, and Greene, whose 26th birthday was on Sunday, were halted by hamstring injuries as John Capel cruised to victory in 19.85s, the second-fastest time in the world this year.

But Johnson and Greene will still compete in Sydney, Johnson in the 400m and 4 x 400m relay and Greene, the world 100m record-holder, in that event and the 4 x 100m relay.

"It's disappointing, but you can't have everything," said Johnson, whose participation in the race was in doubt after his right quadriceps cramped in Sunday's first round.

He began to pull up about 50m into the race and fell to the track after about 30 more metres. He was taken away on a medical cart.

"It's one of the most painful cramps I've ever had," he said.

Greene said he stopped running about 100m into his race after experiencing pain in his left hamstring.

"I didn't want to tear anything," he said. "I don't think it was the heat or the rivalry that caused it. I was trying to do something my body wasn't ready to do."

Veteran Floyd Heard followed 1999 collegiate champion Capel across the finish line in 19.88s, with Coby Miller third in 19.96s.

Marion Jones ensured she will compete in Sydney in five events by winning the women's 200m in 21.94s, the world's fastest time this year, and Stacy Dragila improved her world women's pole vault record to 4.63m.

Jones had earlier won the women's 100m and long jump.

Three members of the same family made the team in the 800m. Hazel Clark, 22, won in 1m 58.97s. Sister-in-law Jearl Miles-Clark was second in 1m 59.12s and Joetta Clark-Diggs, Hazel's sister, was third in 1m 59.49s.

- REUTERS

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