6/28/08

EUGENE, Ore. -- The 100-meter gold medalist from the Athens Olympics, Justin Gatlin, is not here at the U.S. Olympic trials, his court appeals finally exhausted after testing positive for performance enhancers. Even so, he is in a better situation than the golden girl from the Sydney Olympics -- Marion Jones is sitting in jail.

But so what?

Hundreds of other aspiring Olympians are here at Hayward Field, competing in one of sports' hallowed grounds, for the chance to represent their country this summer in Beijing. Among them is Brad Walker, who set an American record in the pole vault in May at the Prefontaine Classic, clearing 19 feet, 7-¾ inches. He is a favorite to win the gold medal in Beijing, and cleared 18 feet, 4-½ inches during Friday's qualifying round.