Johnson likely Games star

Press, 26 July 1986, Page 30

Johnson likely Games star

From ROD DEW . ;t . in Edinburgh

A Jamaican-born Canadian sprinter, Ben Johnson, looks set to become one of the stars of the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games when the track and field programme begins tomorrow evening, (New Zealand time). The heats of the 100 m will be held tomorrow and Johnson, at present the No.l ranked sprinter over this distance in the world; should cruise effortlessly through these

and should also dominate the final on Monday morning (New Zealand time.) His most recent efforts have pushed even the great Olympic champion, Carl Lewis, into the background. A few weeks ago, Johnson, second to Allan Wells (Scotland) in the Brisbane Games 100 m set a world Indoor record for 60m to go with the 10.01 s win he achieved in the World Cup event in Canberra late last year. This time gave him the Commonwealth record. Oddly enough, Johnson’s main rival at the Games in the short sprint could well prove to be another Canadian,

Desai Williams, a 27-year-oid veteran who has been close to greatness without ever quite achieving it He has a best recent time of 10.215.

There , are a string of other outstanding sprinters in the field, however, and there should be some worldclass sprinting. The boycott will have no great effect although Chidi Imo, of Nigeria, who holds third ranking in the Commonwealth, will obviously not be there. Apart from the 10,000 m, which will provide the grand finale to the first day of track and field competition, there

will be just one other final decided — the men’s hammer. In this, the boycott has taken out the second-ranked thrower, Martin Girvan, of Nigeria. This leaves Dave Smith (England) out in front and likely winner. - Smith has < a recent best of 7X92m. Joe Quigley (Australia) assumes second ranking with 72.86 m with Matt Mileham (England) now third in favouritism. The first New Zealand athletes on the track will be the two heptathletes, Lyn Osmers,' of Christchurch, and Terry Genge, of Hamilton. Their first event, the 100 m hurdles, is

scheduled for 10 p.m. tomorrow (New Zealand time). Genge probably represents New Zealand’s best chance of a medal in this testing event She is currently ranked sixth. Osmers, in the team for the first time, has made remarkable progress in the last 12 months and can be relied on to improve still further.

Kim Hagger and Judy Simpson, both England, look to be the chief contestants for the gold medal. Both have scored more than 6200 points in recent competition.

The second-half of the heptathlon competition held on Monday (New Zealand time).