Miles-Clark makes another Olympic team

SACRAMENTO - Yet another Olympic berth for Jearl Miles-Clark was one of many highlights of Monday's competition, featuring women's finals, at the 2004 Olympic Track & Field Trials. An American junior record by19-year-old Sanya Richards in the very first round of the women's 400m was the top moment in qualifying action.

Miles-Clark will compete in her fourth Olympic Games and her second in the 800 meters after winning the 800 Monday in 1:59.06. The 37-year-old American record holder is a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 4x400m relay (1996, 2000), and a relay silver medalist from 1992. (She also was named to the relay pool in 1988 but did not compete in Seoul.) Monday in Sacramento, Miles-Clark came through 400 meters astride her sister-in-law, Hazel Clark, in 57.50 seconds as the pack was tightly bunched. The 1993 world champion at 400 meters, Miles-Clark used her power and speed to take the lead for good with 250 meters to go.

American indoor record holder Nicole Teter also moved up in the final half-lap to place second in 2:00.25. Clark, the 2000 Olympic Trials champion, mad her second Olympic team by finishing third in 2:00.37. In the media mixed zone after receiving her award, Clark was surprised to find not just a media throng, but her boyfriend, Wenston Riley, awaiting her with a marriage proposal. She accepted.

Although lacking the romantic storyline of the women's 800, the men's race final provided a heartwarming moment with three young men earning their first Olympic berths. Jebreh Harris led NCAA champion J.J. Johnson across the 400m mark in 50.35, well clear of the field. The pacesetting caught up with Harris as Johnson made a bold move with 200 meters to go. He kept that lead through the finish line, posting a time of 1:44.7. Two-time U.S. outdoor runner-up Khadevis Robinson followed Johnson's move and moved up to second (1:44.91), while 2002 U.S. indoor champion Derrick Peterson placed third in 1:45.08.

Shayne Culpepper won a thrilling women's 5,000m, taking her first U.S. title and second Olympic Team spot in the process. The 2000 Olympian at 1,500m and 2004 world indoor 3,000m bronze medalist bided her time behind race leader Shalane Flanagan throughout the 12 laps. With 200 meters to go, 3-time U.S. champion Marla Runyan sprinted to the lead. The equally fleet-of-foot Culpepper gave chase, and nipped Runyan at the line, 15:07.41 to Runyan's 15:07.48. Flanagan was third in 15:10.52.

Tisha Waller, Chaunte Howard and Amy Acuff were the class of the field in a quality women's high jump competition. Waller left no doubt that she was in control, clearing all heights except her winning height of 1.98m/6-6 on her first attempt. Her third-attempt clearance at 6-6 gave Waller her fifth U.S. title and second Olympic berth. Howard, the NCAA indoor and outdoor champion and Georgia Tech sophomore who trains with Waller, secured second place with a second-attempt clearance at 1.95/6-4.75. Acuff also cleared 1.95, on her third attempt, to make her third Olympic team.

Two-time Pan Am Games gold medalist and 2003 U.S. champion Aretha Hill made her second Olympic Team in the women's discus. Her throw of 63.55m/208-6 will send her to the Games for the first time since 1996. She will be joined by Stephanie Brown (second, 61.90m/203-1) and Seilala Sua (61.60m/202-1).

The only American to have achieved the Olympic A standard of 78.00 meters/255-11, James Parker secured his Olympic spot by winning the men's hammer throw with a best mark of 77.58m/254-6. A.G. Kruger in second (76.02m/249-5) and Travis Nutter in third (72.46m/237-9) have until August 9 to achieve the standard.

AJR for Richards

Sanya Richards, the 2003 NCAA and U.S. champion, broke her own American junior record in the second quarterfinal race of the women's 400m. The 19-year-old who recently announced she will forgo her final two seasons at the University of Texas dominated her race to finish in 50.22 seconds, breaking her previous record of 50.49, set May 28. De'Hashia "Dee Dee" Trotter, the 2004 NCAA champion, was equally dominant in the first heat in 50.52. Monique Hennagan, a 2000 Olympic gold medalist in the 4x400m, set a personal record in winning the fourth heat in 50.31.

In qualifying action, Derrick Brew won the first semifinal of the men's 400m in the fastest time of the day (44.75), with Jeremy Wariner winning the second race in 44.97. NCAA Division III champion Andrew Rock was second in the heat in 44.97 to advance to Thursday's final. Two-time ACC champion Ola Sesay jumped a personal-best 6.63m/21-9 to lead all qualifiers into the women's long jump final on Thursday. Defending U.S. champion Grace Upshaw was second at 6.54m/21-5.5, while Olympic bronze medalist Marion Jones was seventh in qualifying at 6.39m/20-11.75. American record holder Erin Gilreath posted the top mark in the women's hammer throw with 67.93m/222-10 and advanced to the final in that event, also on Thursday.

2001 World University Games champion Anthony Famiglietti (8:26.51) and three-time NCAA champion Daniel Lincoln (8:26.57) won their respective semifinals of the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase and will lead the field in Thursday's final. Winning their races in the men's 5,000m semis were Matthew Gonzales (13:44.19) and 2003 U.S. champion Tim Broe (13:42.19).

Tuesday and Wednesday are rest days, with no competitions, at the Olympic Trials. The meet resumes Thursday with finals in the women's long jump, hammer throw, 3,000m steeplechase (exhibition) and Special Olympics 100m. Men's finals will be contested in the 400m, 3,00m steeplechase and Special Olympics 100m. Men's qualifying includes four-time U.S. champion Breaux Greer in the men's javelin; U.S. leader Kenta Bell in the men's triple jump; mile world leader Alan Webb in the men's 1,500m; Richards and Trotter in the women's 400m semifinals; the men's high jump; and women's shot put.

The top three finishers in each event at the Olympic Trials who have met the Olympic "A" standard are named to the U.S. Olympic Team for Athens.

For results athlete quotes, posted live during competition, visit the Olympic Trials section at www.usatf.org. The USATF Web site also includes a list of all athletes who have achieved the Olympic "A" qualifying standard and full start lists for Saturday's competition.