A year and a half ago we were looking at the men's 200 as perhaps the most
exciting race of the Olympic games .. With a potential final of Mo Greene,
Michael Johnson, Ato Boldon, Frank Fredericks, Francis Obikwelu, Claudinei
da Silva, Marcin Urbas, and John Capel all of whom had run sub 20.00 within
the past year the hype began early in the year .. The tet a tet between
Greene and Johnson only heightened the anticipation ..
Then came the US Trials and the wheels began to fall off the truck .. And
haven't been seen since .. Greene and Johnson injured at the trials ..
Fredericks needing surgery earlier and not recuperating in time .. Obikwelu
and da Silva far from form and not recovering to this day .. Urbas never
being able to reproduce his one stunning performance .. And Capel being done
in by judgment twice - in the blocks at the games and then in choosing
football as a career move later .. Boldon showed up in Sydney but didn't in
the final and hasn't been back to form since ..
What we have left in these games are a group of sprinters who 18 months ago
would have had to fight for good lane draws in the semis ..
Where once we envisioned finals with 8 sub 20 men in the field we now wonder
if anyone is capable of the mark .. Anyone have any idea where then next
"great" 200 man is ??
Conway Hill
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
