Lackadaisical Lewis Leaps Lacklusterly
It was not the kind of tune-up Carl Lewis was looking for in his final meet before defending his Olympic long jump title.
Lewis, the three-time gold medalist seeking a record-tying fourth title this month, won the event in the Gold Rush meet Saturday night in Durham, N.C. But it came on one of the poorest performances of his 17-year career.
Lewis’ best jump was 26 feet, 3 inches - nearly 3 feet short of his career best of 29-2-1/2.
While Lewis was not at his best, the U.S. men’s and women’s 400-meter relay teams turned in glittering efforts.
In their first competition as units, the men ran 38.16 seconds, the fastest in the world this year, and the women, despite missing regular anchor Gwen Torrence, clocked 42.34, also the year’s best.
The men, with a team of Jon Drummond, Leroy Burrell, Mike Marsh and Dennis Mitchell, appeared to have fluid stickwork.
The women, with Chryste Gaines, Gail Devers, Inger Miller and D’Andre Hill, were not as smooth, with an unsteady handoff between Devers and Miller.
Another world best was turned by a makeshift U.S. 1,600 relay team. The foursome of LaMont Smith, Alvin Harrison, Jason Rouser and Anthuan Maybank was timed in 2:59.29.
Lewis, 35, did not seem to have the aggressiveness he usually exhibits on the long jump runway.
“I know the difference between now and two weeks from now is mental focus,” Lewis said. “I will be ready. Obviously I will be more prepared than I was today.”
This time, it’s final. World 800-meter champion Wilson Kipketer definitely will not run in the Atlanta Olympics.
Kipketer turned down a last-minute offer from the International Olympic Committee to compete for his native Kenya, a country he no longer represents.
“He wants to compete for Denmark,” IOC sports director Gilbert Felli said. “He sees himself as Danish. Unfortunately, the Danish do not see him as Danish.”
Kipketer has lived in Denmark since 1990 and won the 800 meters at last year’s world championships as a member of the Danish team. However, he is not due to receive Danish citizenship until next year, and that means he is ineligible to run in the Olympics for Denmark.
Women’s basketball
The U.S. women’s basketball team, led by Lisa Leslie’s 24 points, completed its pre-Olympics schedule and remained unbeaten with an 86-46 victory over the Italian Olympic team in Indianapolis.
Eleven of the 12 Olympic team members played on the U.S. national team, which went 51-0 against college and international competition. They were named to the Olympic team June 16.
Baseball
Designated hitter Matt LeCroy had two home runs as the U.S. national team defeated Japan 10-5 in Millington, Tenn.
The U.S. team is now 26-3 and Japan falls to 0-2.