by WOW! WOW! WOW!
From the high to the low for US Track and Field in 5 minutes.
First heat of the men's 200 meter semifinal:
1 Marsh USA 19.73 Olympic record, US record, .01 off world record
2 Regis GBR 20.09
3 DaSilva BRA 20.15
4 Kayode NIG 20.23
5 Christie GBR 20.38
Marsh eased up in last 10 meters otherwise a world record!
Heat 2 of men's 200 meter semifinal
1 Fredericks NAM
2
3 Bates USA
4
5
6 Johnson USA
Michael Johnson the PROHIBITIVE favorite in the men's 200 meters will NOT
be in the FINAL! He got out slow and was never a factor. He ran in lane 2
and that could have had some effect. Supposedly he contracted a virus in
Europe during the past month, missed 1 week of training and lost 10 pounds.
He had said that he wasn't feeling like himself in earlier rounds. He
wasn't kidding.
There is now some question as to whether or not he will be on the US 1600
meter relay squad. There is the possibility that the US could have the
gold & silver medalists on their relay and NOT win the gold, even with
their great 400m depth.
RIght now Andrew Valmon is a definite and perhaps Darnell Hall or Chip
Jenkins will get the nod over Johnson if he is still under the weather.