Oregon daily emerald., June 22, 2004, Image 5

Sports Editor:
AJex Tam
alextam@dailyemerald.com
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
SPORTS
ALEX TAM
HOLDING COURT
Now is the time
to clear track's
drug scandal
It s the one event that defines the state of Oregon every year.
The Prefontaine Classic has seen the best athletes that track
and field has to offer. With performances from track legends
Carl Lewis and Michael Johnson to modern stars Tim Mont
gomery and Marion Jones, the event exemplifies why Eugene is
labeled Tracktown, U.S.A.
This week's Sports Illustrated highlighted the Pre Classic as
Oregon's top sporting event. Media from all parts of the coun
try witnessed the 30th year of the historic Hayward Field meet.
However, the topic most talked about was not the celebra
tion of the sport or even this summer's Olympic Games in
Athens, Greece. Instead, discussion around the stadium in
volved the drug scandal hitting the sport's biggest attractions.
T he United States Anti-Doping Agency is investigating sever
al athletes, including Montgomery and Jones, for using
steroids distributed by the Bay Area laboratory Co-Operative.
Numerous athletes expressed that they wanted the conflict
to be resolved as soon as possible.
"Hopefully, things will get settled before the Olympic
Games, said Inger Miller, the women's 100-meter dash winner
at 11.05 seconds. "It's really unfortunate and I just want to be
able to run a race, win a race and talk about me winning and
how great it is and not about what's happening in the world
of dmg testing.
Please see TAM, page 8
Erik R. Bishoff Photo Editor
Marion Jones (middle) talks to the media about track and field's drug
scandal. Jones said she thinks the scandal isn’t likely to be resolved
before the Olympics this summer.
Records fall at Prefontaine meet
Four world-leading marks
headline the 30th
Prefontaine Classic
ALEX TAM
SPORTS EDITOR
The world's top athletes put on a show
at one of the nation's most prestigious
track and field events.
Amid the drug controversy looming
around track and field, a crowd of 12,376
gathered at Hayward Field for the 30th
Prefontaine Classic in a celebration of the
sport.
In the meet's main attraction — the
Bowerman Mile — Alan Webb won with a
time of 3 minutes, 50.58 seconds to set the
fastest time ever by an American in the
United States. Webb broke )im Ryun's
1967 mark of 3:53.01.
"I didn't get under 3:50, but 1 won,"
Webb said. "I ran a personal best time —
those are always my goals. Winning and
running my best time, if 1 did it, I will
eventually be a world and Olympic cham
pion and have the world record. "The
crowd erupted during Webb's last two laps;
he missed the Prefontaine Classic record
of 3:49.92 by Morocco's Hicham El Guer
rouj by less than a second.
"The crowd was just incredible,"
Webb said.
In two of the day's most anticipated
events — the men's and women's 100-me
ter dash — both winners captured the
crown unexpectedly, considering the field
that included the world record holder Tim
Montgomery (9.78 seconds) and the pre
vious record holder Maurice Greene. The
women's side included five-time Olympic
medalist Marion Jones and three-time
Olympic gold medalist Gail Devers.
Shawn Crawford won the 100-meter
dash with a time of 9.88. Crawford, also a
U.S. and World champion in the 200 me
ters, broke the Hayward Field record and
the meet record set by Greene in 2001
(9.90).
"Winning always gives me confidence,"
said Crawford, who now holds the world's
best time in the 100 this year. "It was good
for notoriety ... You got some high per
formances from elite athletes in there and
the winner is right here."
After the race, Greene held up Craw
ford's hand to honor his victory and said
he was happy to give the fans what they
came to see.
"We gave (the crowd) a show," Greene
said. "It just lets me know what I need to
work on. I kind of rushed it. I need to be a
Alan Webb
won the
Bowerman
Mile at the
2004
Prefontaine
Classic with a
time of 3
minutes,
50.85
seconds.
Webb’s time
was the
fastest by an
American in
the United
States in
history. Webb
missed
breaking the
Hayward Field
and meet
record, which
belongs to
Morocco's
Hicham El
Guerrouj •
(3:49.92),
by less than
one second.
Erik R. Bishoff
Photo Editor
little more patient and 1 haven't been pa
tient all year."
In the women's 100-meter dash, Inger
Miller pulled out the victory over Devers in
a photo finish after both crossed the line
at 11.05. Miller, who won the 200 meters
at the 1999 World Championships, has
been slowed by injuries the past four years.
However, Miller said she is "content"
heading into the U.S. Olympic Trials at
Sacramento in three weeks.
"Everyday when I go to practice, I'm en
joying it," Miller said. "It's not about, you
know, what 1 did in '99 and if I can repeat
that. It's about enjoying what I do because
i know I have the talent. It's just putting
everything together."
jones finished fifth at 11.12 after falling
behind in the last half of the race.
"No excuses, I just did not have it," said
Jones, a former basketball standout at
North Carolina. "The other four ladies
beat me fair and square."
Jones later salvaged her day by winning
the long jump with her best mark of 22
feet, 9 indies.
'I was pleased with the fact that I could
regroup and go over to the long jump and
jump farther than I have all year," said
Jones, who owns the Hayward Field and
meet record in the same event at 23-11 3/4
from 1998.
Over on the women's pole vault, Ameri
can record-holder Stacy Dragila almost set
a new world record at 16 feet. With the
crowd behind her on each of the three at
tempts, Dragila nearly stole the spotlight
at the acclaimed height.
"I would have liked to have made the
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