Fast facts: men's track and field

By Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published September 29, 2000

A controversial start in the 200 meters Thursday led to a disappointing finish for Brooksville's John Capel. The highlights:

JOHN CAPEL: He had the fastest time of anyone in the 200 field this year, but a flinch on the start cost him. Capel finished last and teammate Coby Miller was seventh. Not counting the 1980 Moscow Games boycotted by the United States, it was the first time since 1928 that Americans have been shut out of the medals in the men's 200. "I was cussing for 195 meters," Capel said. "None of these guys will ever beat me again. What they won in, I jog."

KONSTANTINOS KENTERIS: He became the first Greek male runner to medal since 1896, winning the 200 in 20.09. It was a personal best for him, but it was also the slowest winning time in the Olympics since 1980. "I believed in myself from the start. People may be surprised, but I came here to win," Kenteris said. "Greece has finally arrived in athletics."

LONG JUMP: Cuba's Ivan Pedroso took the long jump, reaching 28 feet, 3/4 inch on his final attempt. He has won the world championship three times. Australian Jai Taurima, who ignited a bushfire of controversy two weeks before the Games when he disparaged the three African-Americans on the U.S. team, saying, "You can pretty much knock out all the dark athletes" competing in the cold weather of Sydney, won the silver. When asked after winning his medal if he regretted making those remarks, Taurima spat out two words: "No comment." Pedroso, who is black, won on his final jump.

DECATHLON: Estonia's Erki Nool won with 8,641 points, overtaking American Chris Huffins, who led through nine events. Huffins ended up third at 8,595. The Czech Republic's Tomas Dvorak was hampered by an injured knee and took sixth.

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