Posted: August 8, 2004

Athletics: Miles-Clark On Target On Eve Of Fifth Olympic Appearance

From David Monti

(c) 2004 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

by Bob Ramsak

ZURICH – On the eve of her fifth Olympic appearance, Jearl Miles-Clark believes she’s right on target exactly two weeks before competition begins in the 800 meters.

"I felt really good," the 37-year-old said after her runner-up finish to Maria Mutola at Zurich’s Weltklasse Golden League meeting Friday night. "I felt awesome. I had a little problem the last 50 meters. I have to work on that."

Miles-Clark, the only women to win gold medals at the last two Olympic Games, immediately went to the front in Friday’s race, shadowing pace setter Irina Vashentseva as the two reached the bell in under 57 seconds. She maintained the lead until the final 50 meters, where she was passed by the reigning Olympic Champion. Mutola won her 12th straight Weltklasse title with a season’s best 1:57.47, with Miles-Clark clocking 1:58.03. It was the American veteran’s fastest performance since 1999, the year she set the American record 1:56.40.

"I tried to make the race honest," Miles-Clark said. "It’s my third 800 of the year, so I’m just working one step at a time."

Unlike her 1:59.46 win in Stockholm’s DN Galan Super Grand Prix ten days earlier, where she followed the leaders before testing her kick, "This time I tried to go out a little harder and follow the rabbit," she said. "I felt really good. I’m pleased because I went out and was aggressive and went for the win. I didn’t get it," she said, before adding with a smile, "but I’ll work on that."

Miles-Clark said she was pleased to see Mutola’s return to form after the nine-time world indoor and outdoor champion’s 36-race win streak came to an end in Lausanne last month.

"I was shocked," she said when she heard the news. "I was surprised. Then I found out that she had a hamstring problem. And I can feel for her. I’ve had a hamstring problem and was able to run within two weeks, and as you saw today, she’s back. She’s back to her old self and that’s great for the sport."

She said she’s not sure what kind of race tactics she’ll employ in Athens, but feels she’s prepared for any type of race that may unfold, fast or slow.

"I know now that I can do it both ways."

Elsewhere, Bernard Lagat scored his first victory in the 1500m over world record holder Hicham El Guerrouj with a world leading 3:27.40, 24/100s ahead of the Moroccan. Wilfred Bungei won the 800 with a world-leading 1:43.06 just two hours after Bahraini Youssef Saad Kamel --the former Kenyan Gregory Konchellah-- won the B race in 1:43.11, a short-lived world leader. Saif Saeed Shaheen won the steeplechase by more than 12 seconds, clocking 8:00.60; Kenyan John Kibowen won the 5000 in 13:01.69; Wioletta Janowska of Poland was the surprise winner in the 1500 with a personal best 4:03.09; and Edith Masai won the 3000 in 8:36.43, also a season’s best.

A detailed report from Zurich, including exclusive interviews, will appear in Monday’s RRW.