Pace quickens as Olympic Trials draw closer

New faces shine NCAAs; strong field lined up for Prefontaine Classic

With the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials barely three weeks off, the 2004 season is shifting into overdrive. It's no surprise, since Olympic years bring out the best in veterans and newcomers alike. But it's sure fun to watch.

The old guard of U.S. stars, led by Maurice Greene, Allen Johnson, Gail Devers and Stacy Dragila, is alive and kicking. The new wave, featuring the likes of Alan Webb, Christian Cantwell, Sheena Johnson and Lauryn Williams, doesn't want to wait until the next Olympic year to crest.

Last week's NCAA Championships showcased the youngsters in Austin, Texas. This weekend, in Eugene, Ore., the Prefontaine Classic will spotlight the veterans. Next month, they'll all gather in Sacramento for the most rigorous Olympic selection meet in the world. The top three finishers in 20 men's and 19 women's events at the U.S. Trials will qualify for the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, assuming they have met the Olympic 'A' standard.

It's not too soon to draw some conclusions among the veterans. Greene looks to be back in top form in the 100 meters following two sub-par seasons. He ran 10.02 into a headwind at Mt. SAC and clocked a wind-aided 9.78 in May at the U.S. Open meet. The defending Olympic champion will face a strong field Saturday in Eugene that includes Justin Gatlin, John Capel and 2003 U.S. champion Bernard Williams.

Dragila is rejuvenated as well, improving her U.S. record in the pole vault to 15-10 at a recent meet in the Czech Republic. It wouldn't be a surprise to see her clear 16 feet in Sacramento - she set a world record in winning the 2000 Trials at Hornet Stadium.

The U.S. is in familiar hands in the hurdles. Devers, a four-time Olympian, has the two fastest clockings in the world in the women's 100-meter hurdles. Allen Johnson, eager to reclaim the Olympic title he won in 1996, has three clockings of 13.12 or faster in the 110-meter high hurdles.

Dwight Phillips has strengthened his status as the gold-medal favorite in the men's long jump. Tom Pappas, the reigning world champion in the decathlon, scored 8732 in finishing a strong second to the world record holder, Roman Sebrle, at the big multi-event meet in Gotzis, Austria.

The big names are gearing up. But there's a new group of rising stars on the horizon.

Here are some of the most intriguing:

Alan Webb - Ordained the "next great American miler" in 2001, when as a Virginia prep he shattered Jim Ryun's national high school record, Webb went through some growing pains the following two years. There was one lackluster collegiate season at Michigan, followed by his decision to turn pro. But Webb has been brilliant in 2004, running a series of increasingly faster times. In successive 1,500-meter races, he clocked 3:35.71, 3:33.70 and a world-leading 3:32.73. He also lowered his 800 best to 1:46.53. Saturday, he returns to the scene of his greatest high school moment. Webb ran a 3:53.43 mile at the 2001 Prefontaine Classic. He's shooting for a sub-3:50 time this weekend.

Christian Cantwell - Cantwell has taken charge in one of the strongest U.S. events, the men's shot put. The world indoor champion has thrown 73-11.5 and beaten rivals Adam Nelson, John Godina and Reese Hoffa by big margins. He'll attempt a cross-country double this week, competing in Friday's Titan Games in Atlanta and Saturday's Prefontaince Classic in Eugene.

Breaux Greer - The fourth-place finisher in the men's javelin at the 2001 World Championships, Greer spent the last two seasons recovering from arm surgery. He's throwing better than ever this spring, firing an American-record 286-8 last week in Bergen, Norway. He beat Sergey Makarov, the defending world champion. Greer will try to become the first U.S. male to win a javelin medal at the Olympics since Bill Schmidt in 1972.

Dee Dee Trotter - The Tennessee junior registered the biggest upset at the NCAA Championships, winning the women's 400 meters in a lifetime-best 50.32. Trailing Trotter were UCLA's Monique Henderson (50.62) and Sanya Richards (50.68), the pre-meet favorite. Richards, the American junior record holder, announced after the meet that she would forego her final two years of eligibility at Texas to turn professional.

Toby Stevenson - Stevenson's day of days came at Modesto Relays, when he improved his outdoor best in the pole vault by nearly a foot when he cleared 19-8.25. Stevenson, a former NCAA champion at Stanford, became just the second American in history to clear six meters (19-8.25). The other, U.S. record holder Jeff Hartwig, will vault against the event's newest star on Saturday in Eugene.

Lauryn Williams - In recent years, it's been tough for a collegiate sprinter to crack the top three at an Olympic Trials. The sprints are usually dominated by veterans at the top levels. But that could change this year. Williams, a Miami junior, ran 10.97 to win the 100 meters at the NCAA meet in Austin. Williams ranks first on the world list in 2004.

Sheena Johnson - Johnson set a collegiate record in winning last year's 400 hurdles at the NCAA meet in Sacramento. She ran nearly a second faster in successfully defending her title in Austin, clocking 53.34. That time makes her the sixth-fastest American in history and stamps her as one of the favorites heading into the Olympic Trials. The UCLA senior also finished third in the 100 hurdles, clocking a career-best 12.75. The women's 100 hurdles in Austin were terrific: Nicole Denby of Texas won in a meet-record 12.66.