Kids Are Schooling the Track Veterans

SACRAMENTO —  A pretty good track and field team didn’t make it to the halfway point of the 2004 U.S. Olympic trials.

Marion Jones is out of the running in the women’s 100 meters after a fifth-place finish.

Pole vaulters Jeff Hartwig, holder of the U.S. record, and Nick Hysong, 2000 Olympic champion -- gone.

Shotputter Christian Cantwell, owner of the world’s four best throws in 2004, eliminated in the finals here.

Men’s 400-meter hurdler Joey Woody, world silver medalist in 2003, didn’t even reach the finals.

Every day, another big reputation or two is swallowed by the Sacramento heat.

Monday’s most prominent casualties: Tyree Washington, 2003 world silver medalist at 400 meters, and David Krummenacker, 2003 world indoor 800-meter champion.

Washington finished sixth in his semifinal heat with a mark of 45.46 seconds, not coming close to qualifying for the eight-man final field.

Krummenacker faded in the final 100 meters to finish in fourth place with a time of 1:45.67, edged out for the final Olympic berth by Derrick Peterson’s 1:45.08.

So, as the trials take a two-day break to take a deep breath, the question must be asked:

What in the world is going on in Sacramento?

“That’s why the USA trials are so tough,” said Khadevis Robinson, who finished second in the men’s 800 final with a time of 1:44.91.

“Because you can’t predict things.... The USA trials are really, really tough. I think when you see things like this happen, people start to realize how tough this competition is. And how big the pressure is.”

Jonathan Johnson won the 800 final in 1:44.77. He’s a prime example of a recurring theme during the first four days of the trials: A fresh face with young legs outrunning the veterans.

Johnson has a simple explanation for it.

“We’ve got collegians who just want it a little more now,” he said.

Robinson said he sympathized for Krummenacker because, “He has a lot to lose. You know what I’m saying? He has more to lose. These other guys, if it doesn’t work out, it’s, ‘Hey, you made it to trials!’ It’s hard to be at the top....

“I think it’s very competitive in the U.S. I can’t explain it. You’re reporters and I don’t know if there’s some type of award reporters get, but to win whatever the highest award there is for reporters, it’s tough. So just think if you had a competition to get this highest award and everybody came with their best presentation for a week. I mean, it’d be amazing. Just to make the finals would be amazing.

“You know, the best doctors in the world are millionaires. Suppose the top doctors would come to compete for whatever it would be, you would pass out from [the pressure of] the competition. It’s the same thing with this sport. Guys have been training for this for four years. It’s not one year. Four years.”

Washington, who tried out with the San Diego Chargers as a wide receiver in 1999, walked off the track Monday night and announced, “I’m off to the NFL. So that’s it.

“I’ve had injuries all year. I have no shame. I’ve been doing this eight or nine years and I’ve had an excellent career. It’s unfortunate it didn’t work out here, but it’s time to get back on the football field.”

Washington said he is considering offers to try out with three NFL teams this summer.

“My football agent’s been talking to some teams,” he said, “and they’re just waiting for the outcome [Monday]. Which, obviously, they found out. And so, I’m going to go from there.”

Washington, who turns 30 in August, has been bothered by Achilles’ tendinitis. He said, “This year is for the young guys. I wish them well....

“There’s always going to be a changing of the guard. Every year you get older. There’s always somebody coming up. Somebody’s always going to be younger than you are. If I was healthy, I would have run like I did last year.

“But it didn’t happen. I tip my hat to the young guys. I wish the best for those guys. I really do. Obviously, it wasn’t my time. I have no complaints. I’m off to finish my next goal, which is to play football.”