Marion Jones, amid drug charges, has yet to earn an Olympic spot. Associated Press

Sprinter sluggish in trials

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Once nearly invincible, Marion Jones is becoming more beatable with each event at the U.S. Olympic track trials.

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Jones, who won an unprecedented five medals at the 2000 Sydney Games and had talked of trying to match that haul in Athens, could go home empty handed - if she goes to the Summer Games at all.

She won the 100 four years ago. This time she didn't qualify. She won the 200 four years ago. She'll try to qualify in that event starting Friday, but her stamina is in question after she seemed to fade toward the end of the 100.

And she was a bronze medalist in the long jump in 2000. On Monday night, Jones could do no better than seventh in the trials' qualifying round - in an event in which only one other American has reached the Olympic qualifying standard this year.

The adulation that used to surround her is gone, while suspicions of drug use have clouded her career. In what should be her prime years as an athlete, the 28-year-old Jones now seems to receive as much sympathy as awe.

She never smiled or showed much expression Monday. She never seemed to soar, and seemed to lack an extra gear.

Jones strode across the field after her jumps, hiding under a white cap as she was escorted by a meet official. She ducked under a tent and disappeared under the stands, avoiding the "mixed zone" where reporters awaited her.

Four years after being the golden girl of the Sydney Games and a year after triumphantly announcing she was returning to the sport just weeks after giving birth, she is being investigated for possible drug use.

In early June, International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge said although Jones was "technically innocent," she showed poor judgment in becoming involved with people linked to doping scandals.

U.S. hurdler Allen Johnson came to Jones' defense Tuesday.

"It's not fair to drag somebody through the mud because of who they fall in love with," he said, referring to Jones' boyfriend, Tim Montgomery.

--From the Wednesday, July 14, 2004 online edition of the Augusta Chronicle