Jones could defend Olympic sprint title

A possible doping ban for American sprinter Torri Edwards could pave the way for Marion Jones to defend her Olympic 100 metres title in Athens next month.

Jones was fifth in last Saturday’s women’s final, behind winner LaTasha Colander, Edwards and Lauryn Williams, while Gail Devers was fourth.

Edwards, though, announced on Thursday that she had tested positive for the prohibited stimulant nikethamide and could face as much as a two-year suspension.

If that ban began ahead of the Olympics, Gail Devers, who finished fourth in the 100m at the trials, would be first alternate.

But the 37-year-old, twice a gold medalist in 1992 and 1996, may forego the 100m to concentrate on her preferred event, the 100m hurdles.

No Edwards and no Devers would then see Jones promoted to the team.

Long jump success, though, was enough to return a smile to Jones’ face.

After months in the public spotlight vehemently denying allegations that she has taken prohibited substances to gain an unfair advantage, while all the time seeing her performances suffer under the strain, Jones at last had something to celebrate in Sacramento on Thursday night.

As she won the long jump competition with a sparkling performance that earned her a place on her Olympic team, she waved to the crowd and pumped her fist with undisguised joy before embracing her nearest rival Grace Upshaw and sharing a few quiet words.

She had turned her fortunes completely around in the space of six days.

The double Olympic sprint gold medalist had begun the US trials last weekend by missing out on a place in the 100m with a fifth place finish in the finals.

She had then gone to the long jump competition last Monday, in which she won bronze in Sydney four years ago, and qualified seventh of 12 for Thursday night’s final, failing to reach the automatic qualifying mark of 6.40m.

Jones removed any hint of danger or doubt with her first jump of the evening’s final. She stamped her authority on the event, producing a leap of 6.80m to take control of the final and then pulled out a 7.11m jump with her second attempt to gain an unassailable lead.

It was the second longest jump in the world this year behind Jamaica’s Elva Goldbourne’s 7.16m, and the farthest Jones had jumped since hitting the 7.31m mark in 1998.

Jones did not speak directly to reporters, with whom she has had a frosty relationship at these trials, but in a stadium interview from the podium she told the Sacramento crowd: “I think I had a little bit of motivation. It feels really good; I had fun out there.”

An emotional Jones, her voice cracking, added: “So many people told me ‘Marion, just have fun’, and I’m very happy to get it together today.”

Upshaw, the only other American to have achieved the A standard, was second with 6.83m while Akiba McKinney (6.57m) was third and has until August 9 to achieve the A mark and confirm her place for Athens.

Both rivals admired the way Jones performed under pressure.

“I don’t put anything past Marion,” Upshaw said. “She’s an awesome competitor.”

McKinney added: “I knew she was going to do something big today and I expected it.”