Giant wins shot, Johnson gambles

Press, 24 September 1988, Page 28

Giant wins shot, Johnson gambles

NZPA-Reuter Seoul The East German giant, Ulf Timmermann, secured his first major shot crown yesterday while the world champion sprinter, Ben Johnson, gambled with his own Olympic hopes. The world record holder Timmermann heaved the shot, an Olympic record 22.47 metres, on his final effort to deny the young American Randy Barnes and claim the one major champion-

ship gold which had eluded him. But Johnson, the world’s fastest man, allowed his own 100 metres title hopes to hang in the balance after slowing up and finishing third in his second round heat. He eventually advanced to today’s semi-finals as one of only four fastest losers. His great rival and defending champion, Carl Lewis, had no such problems. He headed the qualifying after winning

his • race in 9.99 seconds — the fourth time this year he had ducked under the 10-second barrier. The Moroccan Said Aouita, the holder of four world records and the Olympic and world 5000 metres champion, won his 800 metres heat sporting a large adhesive patch on the back of his left thigh. He said his hamstring muscle was. not hurting too much and added: “After 400 metres it felt okay, so I started running

after that.” Jozef Pribilinec, ■ of Czechoslovakia, won the men’s 20km walk gold medal. Ronald Weigel, of East Germany, won the silver and Maurizio Damilano, of Italy, took the bronze. Jackie JoynerKersee opened her quest to add the Olympic heptathlon title to her world crown with a magnificent performance in the opening event of the athletics programme. The American world re-

cord holder clocked a personal best of 12.69 seconds in the 100 metres hurdles, the opening discipline of the women’s two-day, seven event competition which kicked off athletics at the Games.

The performance earned Joyner-Kersee 1172 points in her bid to become the first American to win the Olympic gold in the event and set her on course to better her own world mark of 7215 points.