The Hindu : Sport / Olympic Games : Crawford brooks no challenge in 200m

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Saturday, Aug 28, 2004

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Sport - Olympic Games

Crawford brooks no challenge in 200m

By S. Thyagarajan

ATHENS, AUG. 27. An American sweep in the 200 metres, with Shawn Crawford etching the best time of 19.79s this season, a thunderous leap by Dwight Phillips writing another American script in long jump, and the triumph of Felix Sanchez of Dominican Republic in 400m hurdles, all contributed to a fascinating night in the Olympic Games on Thursday.

The Americans had swept the board in the 400 metres last Monday.

What prevented one from anticipating an American assault in the 200 metres was the presence of three potential medallists — Francis Obikwelu of Portugal, the silver medallist in 100 metres, the 37-year old veteran, Frankie Fredericks of Namibia and Asafa Powell of Jamaica.

But the combination of Crawford, Gatlin, the 100m winner, and Bernard Williams was awesome.

Tense moments

Quite predictably, there were tense moments before the start.

The huge crowd booed the competitors, understandably disappointed over the absence of the defending champion, Konstas Kenderis, who was forced to withdraw from the Games in a drug-related controversy.

Crawford was on lane four, flanked on the right by Gatlin and Williams on the left. Obikwelu was on six and Fredericks on eight. Off the blocks first, Crawford set up a scorching pace even at the first bend. Gatlin was closing in and when the field neared the second bend. Obikwelu seemed to be forcing his way up briefly even as Williams began closing the gap. But Crawford sprinting with the power and elegance of a cheetah — he calls himself as the Cheetah man — after having raced with a Zebra and a Giraffe for a Fox TV show — was almost on the verge of obliterating the Olympic record of 19.32 by Michael Johnson set at Atlanta. But he could cross the finish line in 19.79s.

The 26-year old former World indoor champion heads new generation of the U.S. sprinters. Until Thursday, he had the world's best time of 19.88s set in the trials at Sacremanto. He trains with Gatlin who could gather only a bronze in 20.03s., beaten at the post by compatriot Williams, who clocked 20.01s.

The fourth place for Frankie Fredericks with a time of 20.14s was commendable, indeed. Obikwelu finished fifth in 20.14s.

"I am really enjoying it. Me and my partner (Galtin) are going home with two gold medals in 100m and 200m." Crawford said. He added that crowd's reaction didn't cause any problems. "It didn't do anything to me. We were warned by our coach, it would happen. I can understand what they are going through. This is the birth place of the defending champion (Kenderis)."

Peerless Sanchez

Is competitive athletics finding another Ed Moses in Felix Sanchez, the unconquered hero in the 400 metres hurdles since 2001? A U.S. based athlete running for the Dominican Republic, where he joined his father 16 years after their parents had separated, is a living legend in that country.

Twice World champion, the 26-year old Sanchez emerged a predictable winner, unaffected by a false start. First to explode from lane six, Sanchez was oozing power and surged ahead even at the end of the first bend. The only challenge for him likely to come was from the American James Carter who had the best time of 47.68s this season, ahead of Sanchez's mark of 47.86s achieved on July 6 in Lausanne. But Sanchez went one better clocking 47.63s.

What more, James Carter was shocked by two more, Danny McFarlane of Jamaica (48.11s) and Naman Keita (48.26s) of France. Carter finished fourth in 48.58s.

"This is a moment of pride...It's great to get that first gold medal for the Dominican Repubic," Sanchez said.

"It is just brilliant after all the hard work over the last four years... I am elated and I hope (this medal) won't be the last," said the semifinalist at the last Olympics in Sydney.

Phillips' golden leap

A 1-2 American finish again was unexpected in long jump though the victory for Dwight Phillips was on the cards after his season's best effort of 8.60m.

The defending champion from Cuba, Ivan Pedroso, though not in good form this season was projected as a medal prospect but he finished seventh at 8.23m.

Out of the blue came John Moffitt with a splendid 8.47m in the fifth attempt for a silver followed by Spain's Joan Lino Martinez. A protest by Britain against the second jump (8.32m) of Martinez was overruled by the jury.

"I felt great, I wanted to break the World record, but I tried too hard and when you try too hard it never happens... This has been a lifetime dream of mine to come out here and do this," Phillips said.

Going for the fourth successive gold and a fifth medal in as many Olympics, Czech Republic's, Jan Zelezny, faces a tremendous challenge in javelin throw to protect his World record (98.48m).

He had a throw of 82.18m in the qualifying round which saw the American, Greer Breaux recording the longest throw of the evening with 87.25m.

Bobby out

Meanwhile, Bobby Aloysius failed to make an automatic qualification for the final of the women's high jump crashing out at 1.89m. She had cleared 1.91m last month for the National record.

Russia's Natalya Yevdokimova of Russia returned the best time of 4:04.6s in the semifinals of the women's 1500 metres, while Kelly Holmes, winner of the 800 metres gold, clocked 4:04.77s in her attempt to fight for the double.

China's medal hope in the 110 metres hurdles, Liu Xiang, was pushed to the second place in the semifinals by Jamaica's Maurice Wignall, who clocked 13.17s, while the Chinese timed 13.18s.

In the second semifinal, Ladji Doucoure of France finished on top with a time of 13.06, followed by Terrance Trammell of the U.S. at 13.17s.Bobby Aloysius began her quest for a place in the Olympics high jump final cleared 1.75m and 1.80m with consummate ease. Coached by Bobby Doyle, Bobby underwent training in Moscow and in the United Kingdom. She qualified for the event with the 1.91m in the inter-State meet in Chennai last month.

Bobby missed the first attempt at 1.85m but sailed over without difficulty on the second, but failed all the attempts at 1.89m.

The qualifying mark was 1.95m or at least 12 best performers advance to the final.Bobby Aloysius who failed to make the grade was placed 28th in the qualifying event. Hestre Cloete of South Africa heads the list.

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