ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, June 18, 1996 TAG: 9606180080
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: ATLANTA
SOURCE: Associated Press
AN UNREMARKABLE PERFORMANCE at the U.S. track and field trials raises some observers' eyebrows and has them pondering the future of the eight-time gold medalist.
Is eight-time gold medalist Carl Lewis in danger of failing to make the U.S. team for this summer's Olympics?
The numbers say yes. Lewis says no.
Lewis, who already has failed to qualify in the 100 and is vague about his commitment to competing in the 200, struggled in the long jump Monday before qualifying for the final. (Results in Scoreboard. B3)
Lewis, long jump champion in the past three Olympic games, finished sixth in the qualifying round with a best leap of 26 feet, 41/4 inches. In his prime, Lewis often jumped farther than 28 feet.
``I was relaxed today, I wasn't aggressive,'' Lewis said. ``I didn't want to do anything to get hurt. My calf cramped up two days ago [in the 100 final].''
Lewis, startled while preparing to take off on his first jump when an errant hammer throw attempt landed near the long jump runway, said his problems Monday were mostly technical and correctable.
``Today I didn't want to get too crazy,'' Lewis added. ``I didn't think there were any statements to make.''
But with a strong field that includes two-time world champion Mike Powell, Mike Conley, Erick Walder and Kareem Streete-Thompson, it may be a struggle for Lewis to finish in the top three in Wednesday night's long jump final.
Only the top three in each event at the U.S. track and field trials make the Olympics.
If Lewis fails to qualify in the long jump, he still is entered in the 200 this weekend, but would have to be considered a long shot in that event, especially after his 100 performance. Lewis refused to speculate about the 200.
``Right now I'm entered in all three events and that's my plan, but I'm taking it one event at a time now,'' he said. ``I'm not thinking about the 200, I'm thinking about the long jump.''
And even if Lewis failed to qualify in all of his events, he still could become the first American male track and field athlete to make five Olympic teams if he is selected by coaches to run on the 400-meter relay.
That would require the coaches to select a sprinter who finished eighth in the 100, passing over several runners who beat Lewis.
Another veteran, Mary Slaney, is back in the Olympics after finishing second in the women's 5,000 meters Monday night.
Slaney, 37, rallied from fifth place in the last three laps to complete an astounding comeback by qualifying for her first Olympics since 1988.
Slaney, perhaps the greatest and most ill-fated American women's middle-distance runner in history, blew kisses to the crowd after finishing second in 15 minutes, 29.39 seconds to Lynn Jennings in the U.S. track and field trials.
Though she holds five U.S. records from 800 meters to 3,000 meters, Slaney never has finished higher than eighth in an Olympic race.
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP Carl Lewis has won the long jump at the past threeby CNBOlympic Games, but he may not make this year's U.S. team. color.