Lewis Eager To Make A Fast Return To Prominence

Two sub-par years have made this a must year for Carl Lewis.

“I have not run up to my capabilities the last two years so it’s now up to me to prove that I can perform at a world level,” said the 33-year-old Lewis, the only athlete to win a track and field gold medal in each of the last three Olympics.

“I can’t sit back and say that because I ran fast three years ago that I’m going to do it now. That’s not going to wash,” said Lewis, whose clocking of 9.86 seconds in 1991 is the world’s second-fastest 100-meter dash, 0.01 behind training partner Leroy Burrell’s mark set last year.

Lewis, speaking Friday via tele-conference, said that while he’ll concentrate on the 100 and the long jump this season, he’ll take part in the 200-meter dash in the New York Games on May 21.

A return to past form would provide the eight-time Olympic champion with the confidence necessary to carry him into the 1996 Olympics.

“I have to run under 10 seconds by next month if I want to be at the level that the world and I expect.”

In the long jump, he’s looking to hit 28 feet, 6 inches.

“Last week I started to feel it come around,” he said after running a 10.15 100 at Arlington, Texas. “In four weeks I should be ready to run fast.”