NOT FAST FRIENDS : Ben Johnson-Carl Lewis Sprint Rivalry Is Tinged With a Dash of Bitterness

ROME —  Ben Johnson, insisting he has no animosity toward Carl Lewis, challenged the Olympic and three-time world champion Thursday to prove who is really the world’s fastest human.

“I have nothing to prove,” said Johnson, who feels he has not received the recognition he deserves despite beating Lewis four straight times and dominating the men’s 100 meters for the two past years.

“I’ve proved it several times before. Why prove it again here?” the Canadian said. “But I’m ready for him.”

Qualifying heats in the 100 are scheduled Saturday, opening day of the second World Track and Field Championships, with the final Sunday at Olympic Stadium.

Lewis, who will defend titles in the 100, the long jump and the 400 relay from the inaugural championships at Helsinki, Finland, in 1983, said after a meet in Berlin earlier this month that he felt a coolness between him and Johnson last year.

After losing to the Canadian in the 100 at Zurich, Switzerland, a year ago, Lewis said, he offered to shake Johnson’s hand, but, “He turned his back to me.”

Johnson, however, told a news conference at the athletes’ village Thursday that he never saw Lewis in the finish area after that race.

“I was waving to the crowd,” Johnson said. “I’d shake his hand here if he comes first. If I win, I will not go to him and make a fool of myself.”

Meanwhile, European champions Stefano Mei of Italy and Roger Black of Britain pulled out of the championships because of injuries.

Mei won the 10,000 meters, while Black took the 400 meters last year at Stuttgart, West Germany. Black hopes he will be able to enter the 1,600-meter relay.

Wednesday, defending world champion Grete Waitz announced that she will not run in the women’s marathon due to a foot injury. Saturday’s race was to be the last major event for the 33-year-old Norwegian, who is retiring from big-time racing after this season.

Organizers said Thursday that no qualifying races will be held in the men’s 10,000, and that the 28 entered runners will go straight to the final, which was moved up from Monday night to Saturday night.

Among them are Steve Plasencia, Ed Eyestone and Gerard Donakowski of the United States.

Johnson and Lewis have been avoiding each other outdoors since late May, when the Canadian won by one-hundredth of a second at Seville, Spain. That was Johnson’s fifth career victory over Lewis.

“I wasn’t in my best shape then,” Lewis said Thursday. “I wasn’t as focused mentally, so it really has no bearing whatsoever.

“I don’t think it matters what anyone says. There’s been a lot of talk from a lot of people, but the whole thing comes down to the races on Saturday and Sunday.

“I don’t think it (the rivalry) is a big deal. Ben is trying to be the best in the world. So am I.”

While Lewis competed in the Pan American Games at Indianapolis, where he won the long jump at 28 feet 8 1/2 inches, Johnson went unbeaten in four European tuneup races, tying his world sea-level best of 9.95 seconds at Cologne, West Germany.

Johnson and Lewis also avoid each other outside the track in Rome, Johnson staying with the Canadian team in the athletes’ village, while Lewis resides in a Rome hotel, away from the U.S. team.