Trials and tribulations of US Olympic hopefuls

Vanitta Kinard’s story is just one of triumph over adversity at the US Olympic trials, reports Simon Lewis.

VANITTA KINARD may not be the biggest name at the US Olympic track and field trials; she may not even be going to Athens, yet her story is a refreshing antidote to the hullabaloo surrounding Marion Jones.

The first four days of the trials in Sacramento, California - they resume tomorrow after a two-day break - have been dominated by the media circus surrounding Ms Jones, her partner Tim Montgomery and others either under investigation for, or charged with, doping violations. When a track meet with more than 1,000 competitors is overshadowed by the negative publicity enveloping six or seven, the others are bound to get more than a little peeved that the light is being shut out on the feelgood aspect of the event.