Joyner-Kersee opens athletics programme

Press, 23 September 1988, Page 21

Joyner-Kersee opens athletics programme

NZPA-Reuter Seoul The world heptathlon champion, Jackie JoynerKersee, opens the athletics programme at the Seoul Games today by launching her bid to become the first American to win the Olympic title in this event. With the world watching, the American will be anxious to clock a solid time in the 100 metres hurdles — the first track event of the Games and the women’s two-day, seven-discipline test — to put daylight between herself and the pack. But after opening the programme, Joyner-Ker-see’s exploits are likely to be overshadowed by the

three finals scheduled for the opening day — the women’s marathon, 20km walk and men’s shot — and the opening heats of the men’s 100 metres. Those looking for an insight into the outcome of tomorrow’s expected high-speed showdown between the Canadian world champion, Ben Johnson and the defending Olympic gold medallist, Carl Lewis, can expect to be disappointed. The pair are likely to coast through two rounds of action and into the final without giving much away. So too are the Briton Steve Cram .and the Moroccan Said Aouita —

the other duelling double act likely to dominate the Games.

They are also expected to negotiate easily the opening round of the 800 metres to stay on course for their own eagerlyawaited clash over twolaps on Monday. The former world champion Cram and the world record holder Aouita are also likely to meet in the 1500 metres final on October 1.

Joyner-Kersee, who also won the long jump crown at the Rome world championships last year, has not been beaten since the Los Angeles Games where she captured the silver behind the now-

retired Australian, Glynis Nunn. Joyner-Kersee will not be satisfied with anything less than the personal best of 12.71 seconds in the hurdles that she clocked on the way to her world record of 7215 points at the United States Olympic trials in July. With the high jump, shot and 200 metres to follow on the opening day, the American will expect to be around the 4300 points mark at the midway stage and comfortably clear of her main rivals just as she was in Rome. In the absence of the Soviet world championship silver medallist, Lar-

isa Nikitina, her main oppostion is likely to come from the East German European champion, Anke Behmer.

Men’s shot defending champion Alessandro Andrei of Italy faces a tough time in a star-studded battle of heavyweights which could prove to be the greatest shot competition of all time. His opponents include world and European champion Werner Guenthoer of Switzerland and East German giants Udo Beyer, the 1976 Olympic champion, and the current world record holder, Ulf Timmermann. The world and Euro-

pean champion, Rosa Mota, of. Portugal, will start favourite to add the women’s marathon title to her list of achievements. Mota takes on the Norwegian veteran, Grete Waitz, in the gruelling event scheduled to provide the first athletics medals of the games. The Mexican Ernesto Canto defends his Olympic 20km walk title in what could be a dramatic race against the reigning world champion, Maruizio Damilano, of Italy, the European champion, Jozef Pribilinec, of Czechoslovakia and the Soviet world record holder, Mikhail Chtchennikov.