Ottey fails to shine in Sardinia

SACRAMENTO: The titans of American sprinting, world record holders Michael Johnson and Maurice Greene, will duel for pride and Sydney Games berths in intriguing US Olympic trials, which begin tomorrow. After months of hype and barbs, Johnson and Greene will finally decide who is best at 200 metres on Greene’s 26th birthday, July 23, during 10 days of cut-throat trials already filled with interesting sub-plots.

Can Marion Jones, for example, win both women’s sprints and the long jump to launch her quest for five gold medals in Sydney? Will her husband, CJ Hunter, claim the men’s shot put title as he did at last year’s World Championships?

The top three finishers in each event will qualify for Sydney.

“The trials are the biggest meet of my life right now,” said Greene, who has never run at the Olympics despite his two World Championships and world record 9.79 seconds in the 100 metres. “Nothing comes close at this point,” added Greene, who hopes to win the 100 metres over the weekend before clashing with Johnson in the 200.

Johnson, meanwhile, has his sights set on turning trials’ victories in the 200 and 400 metres into stepping-stones on the way to becoming the first athlete to achieve repeat victories in those events at the Olympics.

World 200 metres women’s champion Inger Miller is hoping to generate a showdown with Jones at both 100 and 200 metres. But twice world 100 metres champion Jones, who crashed out of last year’s World championships in the 200 because of back spasms, said: “All these people who are doing this talking, what they need to do is concentrate on their race. The trials are pretty much do or die. If you don’t make the team, your season is pretty much over.