US athletes dominated Olympic athletics events Thursday night, sweeping the men's 200m, winning gold in the men's long jump and impressing in the women's 4x100m relay heats.
Shawn Crawford, Bernard Williams and Justin Gatlin finished 1-2-3 in the 200m. Dwight Phillips and John Moffitt went 1-2 in the long jump. Marion Jones and her relay cruised into the finals.
PHOTO: AFP
And Felix Sanchez, whose 400m hurdles win Thursday gave the Dominican Republic its first Olympic gold medal, was born in New York, raised in San Diego and has dual citizenship.
Everyone behaved Friday night -- except the Greek fans who packed Olympic Stadium, chanting the name of their disgraced sprinter, Kostas Kenteris. The Greeks had paid big money to watch Kenteris defend his 200 gold medal, but he withdrew from the Olympics in a doping scandal.
The turmoil delayed the start of the 200m four minutes. Four-time Olympic silver medalist Frank Fredericks, who finished fourth in the race, held his finger to his lips, then clasped his hands together, begging for quiet.
The Americans weren't upset.
"We're here in the birthplace of the Olympics, the defending Olympic champion is from Greece, and there were certain situations that didn't allow him to compete," Crawford said. "I'm sure they were disappointed. I can understand their feelings. I know they're disappointed and angry."
Crawford took the lead off the turn and burst down the home stretch to finish in 19.79 seconds, the fastest time in four years and a personal best. Bernard Williams tied his personal best of 20.01 seconds for silver. Justin Gatlin, the 100m champion, won bronze in 20.03.
The celebration was subdued. Williams, part of the embarrassing preening after the US 400m relay victory in Sydney four years ago, made sure he behaved himself. So did the usually flamboyant Crawford.
"We don't have to be arrogant about anything," Williams said. "We can carry ourselves with honor. That's the stars and stripes."
The trio didn't quite complete their victory lap. They stopped at the medal stand where Phillips and Moffitt were standing as ``The Star-Spangled Banner'' played.
It was the sixth time the US has taken all three 200 medals -- the last sweep was led by Carl Lewis in 1984.
And it gave the US a total of 18 track and field medals, just two behind the total from Sydney, with two nights of competition remaining. Russia is next with nine medals.
Phillips, probably the biggest favorite to win a gold of all the Americans, captured it on his first jump, 8.59 meters. Moffitt was second with a personal-best 8.47. Spain's Joan Lino Martinez of Spain got the bronze at 8.32, also a personal best.
"To go 1-2 in the Olympic Games, and follow in the footsteps of those great jumpers -- such as Mike Powell, Carl Lewis, Bob Beamon, Ralph Boston -- now you've got Dwight Phillips and John Moffitt," Phillips said.
After winning the hurdles, Sanchez paraded with the Dominican flag. His parents were born in the Dominican Republic, and he said he never has regretted choosing to run for the impoverished nation, rather than the powerhouse track program of the US.
"It's a feeling of pride every time I step on the track, knowing I have a lot of Dominicans following me," said Sanchez, who still lives and trains in California. "Now, hopefully I can push the movement in athletics. We've come a long way since I first competed in 1999."
Danny McFarlane of Jamaica got the silver at 48.11. Naman Keita of France won the bronze at 48.26.
Overshadowed in the US medal barrage was Jones' appearance in the semifinals of the 4x100m relay. The quartet of Angela Williams, Jones, Lauryn Williams and LaTasha Colander matched their world-leading time of 41.67 seconds. The finals will be Friday night, shortly after Jones competes in the long jump.
"This team is a lot different than four years ago. They're young, they're fresh, they're excited about every little thing, and that brings a little more excitement to it all," Jones said. "I'm only 28, but I feel like the old lady of the bunch."
The race may have implications beyond the Olympics. Jones is under investigation by the US Anti-Doping Agency and, if she is found guilty of using banned drugs, it could impact any medal the team might win.
Jones has not been charged with doping and had repeatedly denied she ever used performance-enhancing substances.
Her relay teammates said they were not concerned about someday losing the medal they fully expect to be gold.
"We're not taking fear with us. We're taking faith with us," Colander said, "and we're going to stay positive. We've been doing that, and it's been working, so I think we'll stay with it."
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