Godina Gives L.A. Invitational a Booster Shot

American John Godina is treated like a rock star in Berlin. And he is on talk shows in Japan--once playfully taking part in a contest against the persimmon-seed spitting champion.

Godina tossed his seed “like a shotput” and won by just a few feet.

That’s Godina. Always a competitor even if it is silly or if he is merely competing against himself.

Saturday, it was more like the latter. Godina established a personal best in his first indoor outing of 1998, tossing the shot 69 feet 9 3/4 inches at the 38th Los Angeles Indoor Invitational Track and Field meet at the Sports Arena before an announced crowd of 6,416.

Tossing the shot?

It was more like throwing down the gauntlet to the world.

Godina, the 1997 World Champion and silver medalist at the 1996 Olympics, was visibly pleased afterward. His throw--which came on his sixth and final attempt of the night--makes him the ninth-best indoor performer in U.S. history.

The all-time best indoor throw was 74-4 1/4 by Randy Barnes at the Los Angeles meet in 1989. Godina said his previous indoor best was 69-8 at a meet in Houston two years ago. There was little to push him here as Wade Tift of UCLA finished far back with a throw of 61-0 1/4. Meanwhile, Godina’s stellar throw, coming so early in the season, did not surprise him. Especally after he uncorked a throw that sailed past 70 feet in warmups.

“Oh yeah, it was a good two, three feet past 70,” he said. “That’s why I thought I could get the record tonight. But records are there for a reason. It shouldn’t be that easy.”

After his first throw, of 69-0 3/4, Godina conferred with his coach Art Venegas of UCLA.

“He told me I was right on and keep doing what I was doing,” Godina said “And I never really actually got any arm on any of them. So I think there’s going to be some big stuff there this year.”

Normally, Godina is self-critical. After finishing second at the Olympics in Atlanta--he had led through five rounds--he said it was a “complete, utter failure.”

Now, at only 25 years old, his potential is staggering if he stays injury free.

“I’m not so happy about the distance I threw tonight, but I’m beaming right now, because I know what’s in my body now. I know how good it can be,” he said.

“I usually don’t talk like that. I’m usually pretty conservative.”

Godina wasn’t the only giddy athlete at the Sports Arena.

Johnny Gray, who is from nearby Agoura, was excited and nervous about running in front of the neighbors for once. He had little trouble, winning the men’s 800 meters in 1:48.0.

“This race was kind of weird--I feel like a new runner,” Gray said. “The field was larger than the field back in Boston a couple of weeks ago. The atmosphere [today] was like a track atmosphere. Boston felt like a time trial. I think you kind of fear your field when you don’t know them.

“I listened to the introductions. And that’s how I figured what they’re about.”

The 37-year-old Gray, a bronze medalist at the 1992 Olympics, is aiming toward making his fifth consecutive Olympic team. As for Saturday’s race, he had more problems once he started looking around.

“I felt like I was 27 years old today. It was a great feel. I looked up there at the monitor--that’s something new they haven’t had before,” he said. “I found myself watching the race instead of running the race.”

Tyree Washington, who finished 1997 ranked No. 2 in the 400 meters, had his own excellent adventure, winning the 500 yards in 55.6.

“I was scared at first because this was my first time running indoors,” said Washington, who grew up in Riverside. “I told myself, ‘Just go out and run and have fun.’ I felt myself chopping my steps on the turns, so I had to slow down. I was happy to run here because this was my first time running in front of my mom in four years.”

*

Another impressive showing was from Meb Keflezighi of UCLA in the men’s 3000 meters. Taking the lead for good in the final lap, he won with a time of 8:09.5.

“I ran for the win,” he said. “I felt rushed because the meet schedule was running ahead. I felt lost and confused out there and wasn’t aware of the lap count until five laps were left--I knew that meant 800 meters to go.”

Some of the other winners, among them:

- Women’s 500 yards-Falilat Ogunkoya, Nigeria (1:05.1).

- Women’s 50-meter hurdles-Miersha McKelvy, San Diego State (7.11 seconds).