July 28: Ato Boldon victorious in Oslo

Ato Boldon completed another one-day 100m/200m victory today at the Mobil Bislett Games in Oslo.

After false starting once, the athlete from Trinidad got off to a lightning start at the second attempt before pulling into the lead ahead of Brian Lewis (the winner of the event in Paris) and Tim Montgomery. Looking extremely powerful, Boldon powered to a finishing time of 10 seconds flat, with Lewis timed at 10.12 and Montgomery 10.14. Boldon later won the 200m in 20.26, beating second place finisher Ramon Clay and Obadele Thompson.

Click here for full results


July 27: John Regis forced to retire

British sprinter John Regis has announced his retirement from athletics due to a hamstring injury.

Regis, the former world indoor 200m champion, had been hoping to end his career with a place in the team for the Sydney Olympics.

The 33-year-old Belgrave Harrier said the injury had come as "a complete shock".

He said "I'd shown signs of turning the corner in my form and all of a sudden a hamstring decides not to function as normal.

"Hence I've called it a day. This was to be my last season and I wanted to go out with a bang."


July 25: Bailey replaces Greene in Stockholm 100

Donovan Bailey will replaced injured world record holder Maurice Greene in the 100 meters at the Stockholm grand prix meeting on August 1, organizers said on Tuesday.

Bailey will take on Trinidad's Ato Boldon and American duo John Drummond and Curtis Johnson. World champion Greene withdrew from the race on Tuesday after he suffered a strain in his left hamstring at the United States Olympic trials on Sunday.

"We're sorry to say that Maurice Greene is unable to compete in Stockholm but also glad that we can replace him with Bailey,"organizers said in a statement.


July 24: Johnson, Greene picked for U.S. relay squads

World record-holders Michael Johnson and Maurice Greene, whose hotly anticipated 200-meter showdown ended in mutual injury, were both named Monday to U.S. relay squads for the Olympics.

Johnson, the U.S. Trials' 400 winner, was chosen for the 4x400 relay, and 100 winner Greene was picked for the 4x100 relay with the expectation that they will recover from hamstring injuries suffered in Sunday's 200 final, U.S. men's coach John Chaplin said in an interview.

"They're both world-championship anchor men, and if they're not hurt, we are going to run them," Chaplin said.

Joining Greene in the sprint relay camp will be Trials' 200 champion John Capel and the first six finishers behind Greene in the Trials' 100: Curtis Johnson, Jon Drummond, Brian Lewis, Kenny Brokenburr, Tim Montgomery and Bernard Williams.

Coby Miller, the third-place finisher in the 200 , or Terrence Trammell, who was third in the 110 hurdles, will accompany the 4x100 relayers to Europe "just because we will run two teams there," Chaplin said.

The American sprinters will hold a relay camp in Berlin in late August and compete in the Berlin Golden League meet on Sept. 1, Chaplin said.

"If somebody goes down (is hurt), other people on the overall team, such as (Trials' long jump winner) Melvin Lister or (Olympic 110 hurdles gold medalist) Allen Johnson, I'm sure they will come to the aid of the United States, if asked," Chaplin said.

July 23: John Capel wins 200m in Sacramento

Quiting college to focus on the trials payed off for John Capel today as he ran a personal best into a headwind to win the Olympic Trials over 200m. Capel, who had pushed favourite Michael Johnson to a 19.89 in a preliminary heat and who won the semi-final over Johnson and Maurice Greene ran a incredible 19.85, bettering his old PB of 19.87 set last year. The great story of John Capel winning was not the talk of the media however as Johnson and Greene both pulled up lame with left hamstring injuries on the curve.

"I didn't know what had happened until I looked up at the screen and saw Michael lying on the ground," Capel said. "I hope he's all right for the Olympics.

Greene was surprised that he got injured.

"I was coming up on the curve. I was running pretty good and my leg just grabbed," he said. "I'm disappointed I couldn't put on a show here for the fans. You have to listen to your body and I couldn't finish.

Veteran Floyd Heard finished second in a personal best of 19.88 to finally send him to the Olympic Games. Auburn's Coby Miller also ran a PB of 19.95 to claim the third olympic berth.

Only two other men finished the race, Bernard Williams was fourth (20.03, a personal best) and Ken Brokenburr who was fifth. Sacramento's Brian Lewis pulled out of the final with, surprise, surprise: an injury!


July 23: Lindel Frater of TCU wins Jamaican Trials

Lindel Frater ran 10.10 in the final of the 100m at the Jamaican Trials on Saturday over Christopher Williams who clocked 10.11. Joining Frater and Williams in the 100m in Sydney will be Patrick Jarrett who was third in 10.14.

Olympic veterans Michael Green and Raymond Stewart of Jamaica did not advance through the semi-finals.


July 22: Favourites in men's 200 win heats

The celebrated, trash-talking showdown between Michael Johnson and Maurice Greene will come sooner than expected in the 200 meters at the U.S. Olympic trials.

After the two won their opening-round heats Saturday, they were draw into the same heat alongside each other for Sunday's semifinals.

Off the track, their confrontation was a draw.

Johnson, the world record-holder and Olympic gold medalist, won his opening-round heat at 19.89 seconds, the second-fastest in the world thisyear, behind only his 19.71, despite experiencing a slight cramp.

Greene, the 200 world champion, had to struggle to win his heat at 20.29.

The two combatants exchanged stares in the warm-up area before entering Sacramento State's Hornet Stadium, but no words were exchanged. While neither would discuss that meeting after their races, sprinter Brian Lewis did.

"Michael was walking by Maurice and Maurice stared at him and Michael stared back," Lewis said. "They laughed at each other. They were doing it for pride, I guess.

"It was entertaining."

While the two have been bad-mouthing each other since the trials began last weekend, only Johnson had something to say after the first round. Greene said he would not comment until after Sunday's final.

Johnson, however, did not talk about the heated rivalry that has turned into real bitterness. He only discussed his race and the small problem he had with his right quadriceps.

He said he felt a cramp in the quad coming around the curve, "but it went away down the straightaway."

"I think it will be OK," Johnson said. "This has happened before, but it did go away.

"I was able to keep on running today. I was able to finish the race and that was encouraging. I hope it's nothing, but we'll have to see. There's no way of knowing right now."

To protect and ease the pain, Johnson was treated with a wrap.

The first-round heats probably enforced the Nevada odds that favored Johnson in this rare track and field event that has attracted national betting.

The two have met twice, with each winning once, Johnson in 1997 and Greene in 1998, both times at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Ore. They were heading for another showdown at the USA Championships at Eugene last year, but Johnson withdrew at the last minute because of injury.

That's when the trash-talking truly began. Greene said Johnson was ducking him, Johnson claimed he was legitimately hurt.

In his heat Saturday, Greene had to fend off Ramon Clay, the runner-up at 20.37.

Johnson was given a strong challenge by John Capel for the first 180 meters, before Capel slowed, finishing second at 20.14.

HEAT ONE (Wind: 1.2)
1. Bernard Williams  20.22  
2. Michael Marsh     20.26 SB
3. Kevin Little      20.32 SB
4. Rohsaan Griffin   20.46 
5. Ken Brokenburr    20.56 
HEAT TWO (Wind: 0.3)
1. Floyd Heard       20.14 SB
2. Ja'Warren Hooker  20.88 
3. Milton Mallard    20.94
4. Gentry Bradley    21.29
HEAT THREE (Wind: -0.3)
1. Maurice Greene    20.29
2. Ramon Clay        20.37   
3. Darvis Patton     20.40 
4. Andre Morris      21.00
HEAT FOUR (Wind: 0.3)
1. Michael Johnson   19.89 
2. John Capel        20.14 SB
3. Travis Grant      20.76
4. Tony McCall       20.82 
5. Brandon Evans     20.94 
HEAT FIVE(Wind: -0.5)
1. Brian Lewis       20.56
2. Marquis Davis     20.82    
3. Aaron Armstrong   20.90
4. Bryan Howard      21.06
5. Corey Nelson      21.09
HEAT SIX(Wind: -0.6)
1. Coby Miller       20.33
2. Brandon Couts     20.75    
3. Jeff Laynes       20.85
4. Paul Lewis        20.89
5. Derek Brew        21.04
6. Marcel Carter     21.45
HEAT SEVEN(Wind: -0.6)
1. Jon Drummond      20.50
2. Shawn Crawford    20.64   
3. Leon Settle       20.92
4. LeShaunte Edwards 20.94
5. G Ellenwood       21.02
   


July 20: Slip nearly ends Obikwelu's Olympic hopes

Lagos, Nigeria - Francis Obikwelu, Nigeria's 1999 world championship 200 metres bronze medallist, went close to being eliminated in the semifinals of the 100 metres at his national Olympic trials on Thursday.

Obikwelu is rated as Nigeria's leading hope for a track gold medal at the Sydney Olympics, the tall 21-year-old being ranked third in the world this year at 100 metres following his 9.97 seconds run in Lausanne earlier this month.

But all that looked to be in jeopardy at the trials when Obikwelu was left stranded by his rivals in his semifinal.

"I slipped because the start blocks were not good," Obikwelu said. "I had complained about them during warm-up."

But the organisers decided to give Obikwelu another chance and he won at a canter in 10.79 seconds to qualify safely for the final.


July 20: Nigeria boss says Obikwelu may upstage US sprinters

LAGOS, July 20 - Nigeria's 200-meters bronze medalist Francis Obikwelu may upstage United States sprint superstars Maurice Greene and Michael Johnson in both the 100 and 200 meters in Sydney, the president of the Athletics Federation (AFN) predicted on Thursday.

"As we all know, in athletics anything can happen," said AFN boss Yomi Adeyemi-Wilson.

"Francis is a young man who will certainly go places. His major problem has been with his starting but I'm sure he will soon get over that.

"Now that he has decided to run both the 100 and 200m races, it may not be Maurice Greene or Michael Johnson who will steal the show in Sydney. It may indeed be our own Francis Obikwelu," he told reporters.

The 22-year-old Obikwelu, a double sprint junior world champion in 1996, has returned 9.97 seconds in the 100m and clocked 20.01s in the 200m this season.

Last year he won a bronze medal in the 200m at the World Championships in Seville, Spain, behind Greene.


July 15: HSI sweeps 100m at Trials

At last, United States sprint superstars Maurice Greene and Marion Jones are officially headed for the Olympics.

Greene, holder of the men's 100-meter world record, erased the bitter memory of his failure to qualify for the 1996 Games with a 100-meter victory Saturday at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

Even sweeter, he was joined by his HSI clubmates, Curtis Johnson and John Drummond, who finished second and third, separated by only four-hundredths of a second.

"I made the Olympic team! I made the Olympic team!" crowed an ebullient Greene after he recovered from a mistake at the start to win the 100 final in 10.01 sec. Johnson was second on 10.066 and Drummond third in 10.07.

Brian Lewis, who beat Greene in Helsinki last month, had the heartbreak berth, finishing fourth and out of the Olympic running in 10.09.

"I just feel great," Greene said. "I came here to win the 100 meters and 200 meters, and the first half is over.

"I just want to know why I can't have a final without stumbling. But I've been in enough races now that if I make a mistake in the beginning, I can stay calm."

In constrast, Jones made a picture-perfect start to her 100, overtaking reigning Olympic champion Gail Devers at the 50-meter mark and winning easily in 10.88.

Devers, only the second woman to win consecutive 100 Olympic titles, faded, leaving Inger Miller and Chryste Gaines to finish second and third.

"Crossing the finish line, I couldn't have known how emotional it would be," said Jones, who held her arms aloft and beamed as she crossed the line.

Although Jones has hammered home her desire to win five gold medals in Sydney for more than a year, the fact that she is now bound for Australia was slow to sink in.

"I don't think it has hit me yet," she said. "It's the culmination of a lot of hard work, and now I'm on this team."

She'll be joined in Sydney by her husband, shot put world champion CJ Hunter, who finished second in a tightly-contested final won by Adam Nelson with a throw of 22.12 meters - best in the world this year.

Jones found her expected victory unexpectedly emotional. But Miller and Gaines considered their performances a vindication.

Miller, eager to disprove critics who say her 200 world title would never have come had Jones been healthy enough to run that final, was clearly smarting over Michael Johnson's published comments doubting her commitment and focus.

"I think Michael has a lot to say," Miller said. "Maybe he should untwist those beads in his hair. They're a little too tight."

That dig drew a guffaw from Greene, who has himself been stung by the remarks of his 200 rival.

"What can I say? Maybe he'd get some sense if he did," Greene laughed as his manager gestured to him to keep quiet.

Miller, who has at times appeared irked by the attention focused on Jones and her five-gold campaign, said she had no quarrel with Jones' ambitions - nor any desire to assist them.

"She wants five gold medals; I want three," she said. "That puts me in the position of trying to stop her from doing it."

"And I'm trying to stop both of them," Gaines chimed in. "Somebody's not going home with something."

While Johnson's knack for ruffling feathers was in evidence, the man himself calmly continued his inexorable progress with the fastest time of the 400m semifinals.

The 200 and 400 world record-holder, trying to repeat the Olympic 200-400 double he achieved in Atlanta, posted a time of 44.63.

Johnson didn't take the lead until 80 meters from the finish. But from there,it was a stroll. As well as the intimidating burst of speed, Johnson allowed himself an over-the-shoulder glare at his competitors for good measure.

"I wanted mainly to get through to the next round as easy as possible," he said. "I wanted to do only what was necessary to win, so I can get a preferred lane for tomorrow."


July 15: Greene is PhenoMOnal in trials heats

Maurice Greene, who failed to make the 1996 team and then sobbed inconsolably while watching the Olympic final in the stands at Atlanta, burst out of the blocks with the force of a rocket and won his heat in 9.93, only 0.02 seconds off his world-best this season.

The two-time world champion and 1999 world champion, showed no weaknesses in his heat. Charging right out from the start, he had the field beaten easily about halfway through the race, before easing some 20 meters from the finish.

No one else broke 10 seconds in the heats, allowing Greene to establish his early superiority and send a message to the rest of the field.

The next-fastest time was 10.03 by Brian Lewis.


July 15: Late-entry Campbell stars in 100-meters

Super-sub Darren Campbell stormed to victory in the 100-meter event at the European Cup Super League here on Saturday - despite only 30 minutes of preparation.

Campbell stepped in before the race to replace British number one Jason Gardener, who strained a hamstring while warming up.

But Campbell sprung a surprise by rocketing away from the pack to win in a European record-equaling 10.09 seconds, although his time will not count because of windy conditions in the north east.

Hungary's Roland Nemeth ran 10.19 to take second place ahead of the Italian Andrea Colombo, who clocked a time of 10.23.

Campbell said: "I knew I had the race won after 40 meters. This is all about a team effort and Jason wasn't 100 percent fit.

"I only got the call to run half-an-hour before the race. But I knew I had it in me to win the race after a little bit of a warm up."

Campbell's victory helped put Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the top of the men's standings after the first day on 55.5 points.


July 13: Sprint Entries for US Trials

Event 1 Men's 100 Meter Dash                         
Friday 07/14/00 at 6:00 PM                          
                                                                                                  
RANK COMP# ATHLETE                       TEAM                        SEED TIME
==== ===== ============================= ========================= ===========
 1   351 Maurice Greene                   Nike                            9.79
 2   367 Timothy Harden                   UNATTACHED                      9.92
 3   623 Coby Miller                      Auburn                          9.98
 4   992 Bernard Williams                 Florida                         9.99
 5   586 Mike Marsh                       Santa Monica TC                10.01
 6   544 Brian Lewis                      Reebok                         10.02
 7   142 John Capel                       UNATTACHED                     10.03
 8   638 Tim Montgomery                   Asics                          10.03
 9   115 Kenneth BrokenBurr               Nike                           10.04
10   261 Jon Drummond                     Nike                           10.04
11   930 Terrance Trammell                South Carolina                 10.04
12   188 Kaaron Conwright                 CP-San Luis Obispo             10.05
13   804 Gregory Saddler                  Nike                           10.05
14   593 Tony McCall                      Reebok                         10.06
15   469 Curtis Johnson                   HSI                            10.09
16   633 Dennis Mitchell                  UNATTACHED                     10.09
17   996 Gerald Williams                  Southern Cal. Cheetahs         10.09
18   124 Marcus Brunson                   Arizona State                  10.10
19   345 Travis Grant                     Nike                           10.10
20   223 Marquis Davis                    UNATTACHED                     10.11
21   428 Bryan Howard                     adidas                         10.11
22   570 Virgil Maddox                    Oral Roberts                   10.12
23   276 Garfield Ellenwood               Reebok                         10.15
24    31 Lawrence Armstrong               Texas-Austin                   10.16
25   157 Chris Chandler                   Nebraska                       10.16
26   191 Obadiah Cooper                   UNATTACHED                     10.16
27   536 Jeff Laynes                      Reebok                         10.16
28   145 Daymon Carroll                   Florida                        10.17
29    40 Jerome Avery                     Pro-Cor Track Club             10.18
30   390 Floyd Heard                      Santa Monica TC                10.18
31   358 Mickey Grimes                    UNATTACHED                     10.19
32   422 Jarmiene Holloway                UNATTACHED                     10.20
33   738 Ashhada Primus                   UNATTACHED                     10.20
34    25 Justin Anderson                  UNATTACHED                     10.21
35   396 Vince Henderson                  Asics                          10.22
36   467 Amar Johnson                     Texas-Austin                   10.22
37   149 Jonathan Carter                  Fila                           10.23
38   274 LeShaunte' Edwards               Akron                          10.23
39  1008 Shomari Wilson                   UNATTACHED                     10.23
40  1033 Gentry Bradley                   Nike                              NT
Event 2 Men's 200 Meter Dash                         
Saturday 07/22/00 at 11:19 AM                         
                                                                                                  
RANK COMP# ATHLETE                       TEAM                        SEED TIME
==== ===== ============================= ========================= ===========
 1   473 Michael Johnson               Nike                            19.71
 2   142 John Capel                    UNATTACHED                      19.87
 3   351 Maurice Greene                Nike                            19.90
 4   115 Kenneth BrokenBurr            Nike                            20.04
 5   623 Coby Miller                   Auburn                          20.04
 6   544 Brian Lewis                   Reebok                          20.06
 7    30 Aaron Armstrong               Florida                         20.08
 8   203 Shawn Crawford                Unattached                      20.09
 9   425 Ja'Warren Hooker              Washington                      20.09
10   556 Kevin Little                  U.S. West                       20.10
11   356 Rohsaan Griffin               Asics                           20.13
12   549 Paul Lewis                    Reebok                          20.14
13   261 Jon Drummond                  Nike                            20.17
14   390 Floyd Heard                   Santa Monica TC                 20.18
15   171 Ramon Clay                    UNATTACHED                      20.26
16   223 Marquis Davis                 UNATTACHED                      20.27
17   992 Bernard Williams              Florida                         20.28
18   701 Darvis Patton                 TCU                             20.29
19   285 Brandon Evans                 Texas A&M                       20.30
20   151 Marcel Carter                 Shore Athletic Club             20.34
21   573 Milton Mallard                Asics                           20.35
22   428 Bryan Howard                  adidas                          20.36
23   593 Tony McCall                   Reebok                          20.37
24   110 Derrick Brew                  Nike                            20.42
25   124 Marcus Brunson                Arizona State                   20.42
26   633 Dennis Mitchell               UNATTACHED                      20.42
27  1033 Gentry Bradley                Nike                            20.44
28   274 LeShaunte' Edwards            Akron                           20.45
29   197 Brandon Couts                 Baylor                          20.48
30   646 Andre' Morris                 Fila                            20.48
31   829 Leon Settle                   Unattached                      20.50
32   638 Tim Montgomery                Asics                           20.53
33   276 Garfield Ellenwood            Reebok                             NT
34   345 Travis Grant                  Nike                               NT
35   469 Curtis Johnson                HSI                                NT
36   536 Jeff Laynes                   Reebok                             NT
37   586 Mike Marsh                    Santa Monica TC                    NT
38   665 Corey Nelson                  Nike                               NT
39   889 Savante Stringfellow          Mississippi                        NT


July 8: Bailey passed in Nice

Olympic 100 meter champion Donovan Bailey's comeback bid from a ruptured Achilles tendon continued to stall, the Canadian running third in 10.15 seconds behind Nigeria's Francis Obikwelu in 10.06 and Britain's Darren Campbell in 10.13

It was another frustrating result for Bailey, who appeared to finally be returning to form after clocking 9.98 in Lucerne, Switzerland two weeks ago.

"I'm tired and I'm going home," said Bailey after improving on his bitterly disappointing fifth place in Lausanne on Wednesday. "But I've done what I wanted to do this trip.

"I ran 9.98 and now I have to correct my mistakes and I made quite a few of them today.

"Today I could have ran 9.9. I was leading after 80 meters and just made mistakes. I was passed while I was leading and that never happens.

"It won't happen again."


July 8: Sprint kings in pre-Games showdown

By STEVE BUFFERY -- Toronto Sun

The three kings of sprinting will meet, appropriately enough, at London's Crystal Palace on Aug. 5.

Canadian stars Donovan Bailey and Bruny Surin have signed a deal to run against defending 100-metre world champion Maurice Greene at the British Grand Prix, a little more than a month before the ultimate showdown at the Sydney Olympics. Bailey is the defending Olympic champ and Surin placed second to Greene at last year's worlds in Seville.

It's rare in an Olympic year for the top sprinters in the world to agreeto meet prior to the Games, but Bailey, who also races tonight at the Nikaia Grand Prix in Nice, France, looks forward to the challenge.

"I'm not worried at all about meeting those guys before the Olympics. It gives me a chance to learn about people's strengths and weaknesses," Bailey said yesterday.

Bailey, 32, has been showing his best form since his career-threatening Achilles tendon injury in 1998, nailing a surprising time of 9.98 seconds in Lucerne, Switzerland on June 26, although he followed that with a disappointing 10.12 last weekend in Lausanne.

Greene, 25, is still considered the man to beat in the 100 metres in Sydney, having posted a world record time of 9.79 last June in Athens. The brash American also has the best time this season, a 9.91 on May 13 in Osaka, Japan.

Surin, who is currently back training in Austin, Tex., has yet to round into his best form this year, although he did post a decent 10.08 on June 16 in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. Surin, 32, set a personal best (9.84) in winning a silver at last year's worlds.

Bailey said yesterday that he also would run a couple of 200s this year, although he ruled out the possibility of attempting to qualify for Canada's Olympic team in the event.

"I know my coach (Dan Pfaff) wants me to run the 200, but that's twice as far as I want to run," he said.

"Running the 200 is like running 10 miles to me."

Pfaff believes Bailey could excel in the 200, given his lanky body type and late acceleration.


July 6: Donovan Bailey runs Saturday in Nice

Is Donovan Bailey back? That seems to be the question the sprinting world is asking. Bailey tore up the track in Luzern on June 27 running a 9.98 into a headwind. Then he went to Lausanne for another 100m against Ato Boldon and seemed to be in position to accelerate past the field like we saw in Atlanta'96 but he didn't seem to have in him and and struggled accross the line in fifth with a 10.12 clocking. Very upset with his performance, Bailey had no awnsers about his performance. On Saturday, some questions may be awnsered as Bailey runs in Nice against sub10 sprinters Leonard Myles-Mills, Francis Obikwelu and Obadele Thompson. As well as indoor specialists Freddy Mayoland and Roland Nemeth. Darren Campbell of Britain is also in the field. Serious challenges could come from Obikwelu and Nemeth who beat Bailey to the wire in Lausanne. The times may not be very impressive as the stadium records are 10.00 and 20.09 in the 100 and 200, both held by Frank Fredericks. A look back at the champions of the last ten years at the Nikaia GP in Nice:

1990 Leroy Burrell (USA) 10.21    
1991 Chidi Imoh (NGR) 10.29   Leroy Burrell (USA) 20.50
1992 Frank Fredericks (NAM) 10.12    
1993     Frank Fredericks (NAM) 20.41
1994 Dennis Mitchell (USA) 10.19    
1995     John Regis (GBR) 20.26
1996 Donovan Bailey (CAN) 10.17    
1997     Geir Moen (NOR) 20.41
1998 Frank Fredericks (NAM) 10.00    
1999 Leonard Myles-Mills (GHA) 10.12   Frank Fredericks (NAM) 20.09


July 6: Bruny Surin to meet Donovan Bailey and Maurice Greene in London

According to donovanbailey.com, Bruny Surin will race against two of his main rivals for Sydney 2000 on August 5 at Crystal Palace in London. Maurice Greene and Donovan Bailey will renew there rivalry over 100m, as Bailey looks like he is back in form from an achilles injury suffered in 1998. Surin's best in time this year is a respectable 10.08 clocking from mid June. Greene has the world's best time of 9.91, which he set in May in Japan while Donovan Bailey also has a sub10 this year, a 9.98 which he ran on June 27 in Switzerland.



July 5: Ato Boldon back on Track with a 9.95/19.97 double in Lausanne

Ato Boldon showed he was back in form on wednesday at the Annual Athletissima meet in Lausanne, Switzerland. Known for it's fast track, many of the greatest performances in the 100m were at Lausanne, such as: Leroy Burrell 9.85 in 1994, Frank Fredericks 9.86 in 1996, Maurice Greene 9.90 in 1997 and last year when Boldon ran 9.86. This year, Laussane did not feature Fredericks, Greene or Bruny Surin in the 100m but two Olympic medalists returning from injury and six yound sprinters looking for there place in history. When the gun went off, Ato Boldon took control and coasted to an easy victory in 9.95 with a hard charging Francis Obikwelu second in a personal best time of 9.97, his second sub10 of the season. Donovan Bailey was in the race until the 70m point when he started to fade while Boldon and Obikwelu looked strong.

In the 200m, which was run about an hour later Ato Boldon once again lined up against Obikwelu. As the gun fired, Boldon, Thompson and Obikwelu looked great through the bend. On the straight, Thompson and Obikwelu had a slight lead on Boldon who was out in lane seven. As they came to the wire, Boldon showed his strength and took the win in 19.97 becoming the second man to sprint under 20 seconds this year.


Results

100 Metres - Final
Wind Reading: 1.0
                                     Time     React  
1. Ato Boldon         Trinidad        9.95 SB 0.157
2. Francis Obikwelu   Nigeria         9.97 PB 0.185
3. Jason Gardener     Great Britain  10.09    0.151
4. Roland Nemeth      Hungary        10.10    0.148
5. Donovan Bailey     Canada         10.12    0.169
6. Obadele Thompson   Barbados       10.12    0.186
7. Andres Da Silva    Brazil         10.26    0.148
8. Dwain Chambers     Great Britain  10.26    0.151
200 Metres - Final
Wind Reading: 0.3
                                     Time    
1. Ato Boldon         Trinidad       19.97 SB
2. Francis Obikwelu   Nigeria        20.01 SB 
3. Obadele Thompson   Barbados       20.10 SB
4. Claudinei da Silva Brazil         20.25
5. Kevin Little       United States  20.53 SB 
6. Patrick Stevens    Belgium        20.54  
7. Andrew Maybank     United States  20.71 
8. Ivan Garcia        Cuba           20.71


July 3: Obadele Thompson win 100 and 200 in Croatia

Results from the IAAF Grand Prix II in Zagreb Monday:

100 Metres - Final
Wind Reading: -1.0

1. Obadele Thompson   Barbados       10.17
2. Dennis Mitchell    United States  10.18
3. Abdul Aziz Zakari  Ghana          10.21
4. Matt Shirvington   Australia      10.33
5. Roland Nemeth      Hungary        10.34
6. Freddy Mayola      Cuba           10.48
200 Metres - Final
Wind Reading: -0.4

1. Obadele Thompson   Barbados       20.16 SB
2. Claudinei da Silva Brazil         20.43
3. Dennis Mitchell    United States  20.43
4. Ramon Clay         United States  20.53


July 2: Greene drops 100 metres again

World champion Maurice Greene was beaten Sunday at 100 meters, questioning his readiness for the U.S. Olympic
trials in two weeks.

Britain's Jason Gardner, running into a stiff headwind, was timed at 10.40 seconds. Greene, who got a terrible start, finished fifth at 10.54.

The U.S. won the Britain-U.S. Challenge meet, 179 1/2-170 1/2.

Greene, who won the 100 and 200 world titles a year ago, was fourth in the 100 Wednesday at Athens, Greece, but came back to win both the 100 and 200 Friday at Rome.

Greene laughed off the loss Sunday in chilly, windy weather, blaming it on too much travel, which saw him running last weekend in Oregon, then flying to Europe for three meets in five days.

"Of course it's a bad day, but what can you expect?" he said. "I've been running a lot lately and a lot this week. Things like this happen. I didn't find anything. My legs are dead and sore."

American Vince Henderson was second at 10.50, followed by Britons Darren Campbell (10.52) and Dwain Chambers (10.54).

Christian Malcolm of Great Britain won the 200 in 20.65 a season best also in a stiff headwind.

Maurice Greene led off for the US relay team that clinched the meet win in 38.90. Britain was second in 39.07


July 2: Preview: Zagreb IAAF Grand Prix

In the absence of world record holder Maurice Greene, the men's 100m at the Zagreb Mladost stadium should be a race between three Americans - Brian Lewis, winner of the Golden League meeting in Paris, Greg Saddler, the new star of sprint and Dennis Mitchell, making his return to the track following a doping suspension.


July 2: Ato Boldon returns to Laussane looking for the deuce

In 1999, Ato Boldon was the only man to defeat Maurice Greene over 100m. That came at the Athletissima in Laussane as he equaled his personal best of 9.86. Shortly after that race, Boldon was injured and kissed his 1999 season goodbye. Boldon is now well on the road to recovery and is looking to win both the 100m and 200m in Laussane on wednesday. Boldon's best time in 2000 for the 100m is 10.00 which he ran a few days ago in Rome. Boldon's only 200m race in this olympic year was in late April in Martinique where he ran a easy wind aided 20.30. In the 100m, Boldon's challenge will come from Donovan Bailey, Dwain Chambers, Jason Gardener and Obadele Thompson. The 200m is a weaker field but does include 19.89 sprinter Claudinei da Silva of Brazil and Obadele Thompson.

Ato Boldon's best one day double was in 1997 when he tore up the Stuttgart track with a 9.9 in the 100m and a personal best of 19.77 in the 200m.


July 1: John Capel wins the final race on the USATF Golden Spike Tour

John Capel found some success on the Golden Spike Tour on Saturday. Capel won the men's 100 meter dash in a time of 10.14 seconds ahead of Terrance Trammell and Jeff Laynes at the GMC Envoy Open in Palo Alto, California. Capel's victory came at a great time for his confidence going into the US Olympic Trials which begin in two weeks in Sacramento. Capel's best time for 2000 is 10.13 which he set in Raleigh, while his all-time best is 10.03. Results can be found here


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