Maurice Greene thinks he and his teammates can sweep the medals in the 100 meters and win the 4x100.
Nothing quite anoints the World's Fastest Man crown like Olympic gold, and while Maurice Greene has his eyes set on that, he aspires to more in Athens. The reigning gold medalist, who turned 30 on July 23, respects his younger competition from the U.S. Trials enough that he wants a red-white-and-blue sweep on the podium in Athens.
"My goal is to go 1-2-3 and show the world we have the best team and sprinters," Greene said after he ran 9.91 seconds to lead four Americans under 10 seconds in the trials. "The only way we'll lose the 4x100 is if we drop the stick or don't get it around."
Greene's competition for gold - and for track's most confident personality - is considerable, as 22-year-old Justin Gatlin finished .01 seconds behind him and 26-year-old Shawn Crawford was another .01 behind that. Those sprinters went 1-2 in the 200, where another U.S. trifecta is possible.
Crawford ran the 200 in less than 20 seconds twice at the trials, and Gatlin ran a 20.01 in the final despite a painful toe injury from the semifinals. Third-place qualifier Bernard Williams was the second leg on the U.S. gold 4x100 relay in Sydney and could be back for a repeat victory in that event as well.
"This is a revolution," Williams said of track's youth movement in Athens, eager to take the baton from the stars of Olympics past. Greene isn't ready to let go the mantel of world's fastest, to an American or anyone else in the field.
Said Gatlin: "It'll be a coin toss who wins in Athens."
Said his training partner, Crawford: "I'm ready to bring the gold home in August."
FOUR MINUTES, EASY: Alan Webb became the future of American distance running three years ago when he became the first U.S. high schooler to run a four-minute mile indoors. He went on to break Jim Ryun's 36-year-old national high school record in the mile with a 3:53.43 that shattered the mark by nearly two seconds.
Now, he sets his sights on Olympic gold in the 1,500, where he has the world's second-fastest time this year. He has the year's fastest mile as well, with a 3:50.85 in the prestigious Prefontaine Classic. With a strong run in Athens, the 21-year-old Webb could have a following like Prefontaine and give distance running its highest national interest since before he was born.
"Why can't U.S. milers do better on the international scene?" said Webb after his trials victory, by 2.32 over Charlie Gruber, a 25-year-old who has run well in his shadow. "The answer is for Alan Webb to go out, run, and try to beat as many guys as I can. Not just in the U.S., but in the rest of the world."
A NEW GENERATION: The high-profile days of Dan O'Brien and Dave Johnson are a decade gone, but U.S. decathletes Bryan Clay and Tom Pappas have a chance to shine in Sydney.
For all their hype, O'Brien didn't qualify for the Olympics and Johnson mustered a bronze. Pappas, 28, won the U.S. Trials in 2000 and placed fifth, and his Greek heritage will make him a popular athlete in Athens. He'll be challenged by Clay, 24, who outpointed him at this year's trials and enters as another medal hopeful.
"I think I'm going to give Tom and (Czech Republic's) Roman (Sebrle) a run for their money," Clay said after the trials. "I don't think it will be a walk in the park for anyone."
