Olympics Overview: Track & Field
— -- The Facts
WHERE: Olympic Stadium.
WHEN: Sept. 22-Oct. 1.
MEDALS: The track events include sprints (100 meters, 200m, 400m),middle-distance running (800m and 1500m) and long-distance running(5000m and 10,000m), hurdling (100m and 400m for women, 110m and400m for men), relays (400m and 1,600m) and the men’s 3000msteeplechase.
Field events, for men and women, include the long jump, triplejump, high jump, pole vault, shot put, discus, javelin and hammerthrow. The women’s pole vault and hammer throw debut.
Road events consist of the men’s and women’s marathons, themen’s 20km and 50km race walks and the women’s 10km race walk. Mencompete in the decathlon and women in the heptathlon.
OUTLOOK: Marion Jones and Michael Johnson of the United States are expected to shine. (See below.)
American sprinter Maurice Greene will attempt to solidify his status as the world’s fastest human in the 100.
Gabriela Szabo of Romania will try for a never-achieved women’s 1,500-5,000double.
Cuba’s Javier Sotomayor makes a controversial return aftertesting positive for cocaine, and will attempt to regain theOlympic high jump title he won in 1992.
Who to Watch
Marion Jones, USA: Seeking to become the first woman in track and field history to win five gold medals at one Olympics. In fact, no female track andfield athlete has done it in an entire career. Will compete in the100 and 200 meters, the 400 and 1,600 relay, and the long jump.Favored in the four running events but vulnerable in the long jumpbecause of her poor technique.
Michael Johnson, USA: Coming off magnificent 200-400 double at the 1996 Olympics, is the overwhelming favorite to become the first to win the 400 twiceat the games. Set the 400 record of 43.18 seconds last year at theworld championships. Failed to qualify for 200 because of pulledhamstring. Also is expected to anchor the favored 1,600 relayteam.
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