Summer Olympics 2004

Change of venue can't aid American

By wire services
Published July 12, 2004

MANCHESTER, England - American Malachi Davis slipped from third to fifth in the final strides of the 400 meters at the British Olympic trials Sunday, failing to earn an automatic berth for the Athens Games in his adopted country.

Davis must wait until British selectors name a provisional Olympic roster Tuesday to find out if he is headed to the Aug. 13-29 Games. His fifth-place finish makes him a long shot.

Davis, whose mother was born in London, won his heat Saturday, two days after arriving in Britain for the first time.

While the U.S. trials were being held in Sacramento, Calif., Davis' appearance at the trials in Manchester was greeted with surprise by rival athletes, though team officials said he had done nothing wrong. Looking at the opposition, Davis said he had a better chance of earning an Olympic berth at the British event than in the United States.

In the final, he started sluggishly but was in third when the runners hit the final straight. He fell behind leaders Daniel Caines and Tim Benjamin, and slowed dramatically in the final strides and was passed by Sean Baldock and Richard Tobin.

Davis finished in 46.47 seconds, well off his season-best 45.52. Benjamin won in 45.58, becoming the first British runner to beat Caines since July 2001.

Benjamin hasn't run the Olympic qualifying standard of 45.55, and that might clear the way for selectors to reconsider Davis.

Benjamin pointed out that Davis' best time was run in ideal conditions in Tucson, Ariz., while his best came in the cold and wet of Manchester.

"I have no problem with him (Davis)," said Benjamin, who has a week left to reach the Olympic standard. "Everyone has a dream to make it to the Olympic Games, and if that is his dream, you can't argue with it."

No margin of error was given in the Opinion S.A. poll conducted from June 30-July 2. It involved phone interviews with 1,500 people over the age of 18. The poll also found that, despite delays in the construction of some venues, 82 percent believe the Games will be a success.

Cycling Australia said the breach relates to a package of 16 tablets containing anterior pituitary peptide, a prohibited growth hormone, sent through the mail in January 1999 addressed to Eadie and intercepted by the Australian Customs Service. The cycling association said Eadie had not tested positive to any banned substance. Eadie, who has 14 days to respond to the notice, has been named to the Australian team for Athens.

KAYAKING: Former world champion Rebecca Giddens and Olympic canoeing gold medalist Joe Jacobi will compete for the United States in Athens. The final U.S. Canoe/Kayak roster was completed, with Jacobi the only former medalist on the team.

Racing in a two-man canoe, he won a whitewater slalom event in the 1992 Barcelona Games. He will be back in the same event this year, paired with Matt Taylor, who has competed internationally for more than a decade. Giddens competed in the 2000 Games, finishing seventh.

VOLLEYBALL: The United States beat Thailand 25-20, 25-18, 25-20 in the World Grand Prix women's tournament in Bangkok. Three-time Olympic champion Cuba beat South Korea 25-18, 25-16, 25-17. The 12-team tournament is the final pre-Olympic competition for squads that already qualified for Athens.

[Last modified July 12, 2004, 07:23:46]