Johnson and Greene Pull Up Lame
S A C R A M E N T O, Calif., July 23 -- — In the most anticipated showdown intrack and field in three years, Michael Johnson and Maurice Greeneboth pulled up lame in the final of the 200 meters at the U.S.Olympic trials today.
The winner of the final was 1999 NCAA champion John Capel ofFlorida in 19.85 seconds, with Floyd Heard second in 19.88 and CobyMiller third in 19.96. The three men qualified to run for the U.S. 200-meter team at the Sydney Olympics.
Johnson and Greene’s injuries mean neither will run the 200 at the Sydney Olympics.
However, Johnson, the world record-holder and Olympic gold medalist, has qualified for the 400 and will run the 1,600 relay, if he recovers.
Greene, the 200 world champion, will be in the 100 and 400 relay, also if he is healthy.
Anticlimax
The race, the final event at the trials, proved anticlimacticafter a huge buildup, which included as much trash-talking as hasever been seen in a track and field event.
Going into the race, Johnson was nursing a tender rightquadriceps, but it was his left quadriceps that forced him to quitabout 80 meters into the race.
It was evident that when Johnson came out of the blocks, hewasn't healthy. He started much slower than usual, began slowingeven more at 50 meters, then struggled another 20 to 30 metersbefore crumpling to the track.
He was removed from the track on a cart.
Greene began limping with about 100 meters left, grabbed for theback of his left leg, started to slow further and stopped shortlyafter.
He then walked toward the finish line, and had his lefthamstring wrapped in ice.
“I didn't know what had happened until I looked up at thescreen and saw Michael lying on the ground,” said the winner, Capel. “I hope he's all right for the Olympics. That’s a terrible way to lose.”
After the two won their opening-round heats today, they weredrawn into the same heat alongside each other for today’ssemifinals.
Johnson won his opening-round heat at 19.89 seconds, the second-fastest in theworld this year, behind only his 19.71, despite experiencing aslight cramp.
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