ESPN Network: ESPN.com | NFL.com | NBA.com | NASCAR | NHL.com | WNBA.com | ABCSports | EXPN | FANTASY | INSIDER

 Basketball
 Track & Field
 Gymnastics
 Swimming
 Soccer
 Volleyball
 Boxing
 Baseball
 Softball
 More Sports   

 Results
 Schedule
 Venues
 Photos
 Message Board






Schedule | Fan Guide | History | U.S. Roster   
Thursday, September 21
Track stars start quest in heats


SYDNEY, Australia -- Michael Johnson wore gold shoes. Maurice Greene wore a smile. Marion Jones chickened out on her chance to wear something really different.

All three strolled to victories in first-round heats as track and field events began Friday at the Sydney Olympics.

Donovan Bailey
Canada's Donovan Bailey has been battling the flu leading up to his first-round heat.

The first track medal of the games was mired in controversy. Mexico's Bernardo Segura crossed the finish line first in the 20-kilometer walk, but later was disqualified for three instances of breaking contact with the ground.

That gave the gold medal to Poland's Robert Korzeniowski, with Noe Hernandez of Mexico second and Vladimir Andreyev of Russia third.

Jones began her quest for five gold medals with a leisurely victory in 11.20 seconds in her heat of the women's 100. She wore custom-made black shoes covered with shiny chrome, instead of the radical pair designed for her for the games.

The shoes she decided not to wear are made of thermoplastic urethane and are clear. And they have no heels. They are touted as the lightest spiked track shoes ever made at 3.5 ounces.

"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," Jones said. She said the biggest problem she faced in the first round was almost getting knocked over by a gust of wind as she stepped into the starting blocks.

"I'm having a ball. I'm 24 years old, I'm in Sydney, I'm running great," she said.

Joining Jones in the second round were U.S. teammates Chryste Gaines and Torri Edwards, a late replacement for the injured Inger Miller -- who withdrew from the race because of a severely sprained left hamstring. Gaines' time of 11.06 seconds was the best of the first round.

Also advancing was Merlene Ottey, a seven-time Olympic medalist who substituted at the last minute for a Jamaican teammate. Some Jamaican team members protested when Ottey, who is returning from a one-year drug ban, replaced Peta-Gaye Dowdie in the 100.

Greene, who sobbed while watching the 1996 Olympics from the stands, began his quest for a men's 100-meter gold at the Sydney Games with a celebratory smile.

He breezed to an easy victory in 10.31 seconds in his first-round heat, then strutted and waved to the crowd. He slowed significantly toward the end of his heat.

"I'm just happy to get the show started and eager to keep it going," he said. "You just want to get through the first round as easy as possible."

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.

Also advancing to the second round were Americans Curtis Johnson and Jon Drummond. Ato Boldon, the 1996 bronze medalist from Trinidad & Tobago, won his heat in 10.04 seconds.

Defending champion Donovan Bailey of Canada, who set a world record of 9.84 seconds while winning in Atlanta but has been tormented by injuries the past two years, also advanced by finishing third in his heat in 10.39 seconds. Bailey has been battling the flu the past few days.

After the race, Bailey sat by himself on a bench for about 15 minutes -- his head in his hands.

Johnson, glancing to his left several times down the closing stretch to see if anyone was close behind, strolled to an easy victory in his first-round heat of the men's 400.

Johnson finished in 45.25 seconds and advanced to the second round Saturday. Joining him in the next round 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.

Johnson, master of the men's 400 for more than a decade, is an overwhelming favorite to become the first man to win the event in consecutive Olympics. He has won four consecutive world championships, setting the world record of 43.18 seconds while winning that title last year.

"It felt pretty easy today, so I think I got the mission accomplished," Johnson said. "It's really great to get it started. It was a fun week hanging out down here, but now it's business and I'm ready to get it going."

The Clark clan had a good day in the women's 800 meters, and all three American shot putters advanced to the final.

Joetta Clark-Diggs, her kid sister, Hazel Clark, and their sister-in-law, Jearl Miles-Clark, all easily advanced to the semifinals of the women's 800.

"Making it was first on our minds. We did that," said Miles-Clark, the first family member to run. "One step at a time. It was nerve-racking to watch, waiting to see if they made it through to the next round."

Maria Mutola of Mozambique, who won the bronze medal in 1996, also moved into the semis. But the reigning world champion, Ludmila Formanova of the Czech Republic, dropped out on the second lap of her heat because of a sore left ankle.

In the shot put, 1996 silver medalist John Godina had the second-best throw of 67 feet, 6¼ inches in the qualifying round. Also advancing were fellow Americans Adam Nelson and Andy Bloom. Arsi Harju of Finland had the best qualifying throw of 70-2¼.

Godina was a late Olympic replacement for U.S. teammate C.J. Hunter, the reigning world champion. Hunter dropped out after arthroscopic knee surgery.

In the walk, officials upheld the disqualification of Segura, who won the bronze medal in 1996 in that event and holds the world record.

Segura denied breaking any rules.

"They can't disqualify me," he said. "It would be unfair because I ran a clean race."

The Mexican team disputed the ruling, claiming the walker should have only been charged with two violations. A third instance of improperly lifting feet and breaking contact with the ground -- in other words, jogging instead of walking -- results in automatic disqualification.

"He took a risk at the end for the gold," said Tim Seaman of Chula Vista, Calif., the only American in the walk, who was unsure what place he had finished an hour after the race. "You're always pushing, pushing, pushing. The gold is never easy."



 

ALSO SEE
Track and field results

Opening day a hit for track fans

Aussie papers say Perec 'running scared' of Freeman




   
ESPN.com: Help | Advertiser Info | Contact Us | Tools | Site Map | Jobs at ESPN.com
Copyright ©2000 ESPN Internet Ventures. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information are applicable to this site.
 
 
Archery Rowing
Badminton Sailing
Canoe/Kayak Shooting
Cycling Synchronized Swimming
Diving
Equestrian Table Tennis
Fencing Tennis
Field Hockey Triathlon
Handball Water Polo
Judo/Taekwondo Weightlifting
Modern Pentathlon Wrestling