U.S. Olympic Trials - you never know

Nothing is guaranteed when it comes to the U.S. Olympic track and field team. Michael Johnson, Maurice Greene, Marion Jones, Stacy Dragila may be marquee names in the sport, but they still must earn the right to compete at the Olympics Sept. 15-Oct. 1 in Sydney, Australia.

And that's exactly why the Olympic Trials in Sacramento promise to be an exciting show starting on Friday and running through July 23 at Sacramento State University's Hornet Stadium.

This is not the Dream Team, where the biggest names of the sport are selected to go for the gold. The selection process is simple: The top three finishers in each final during the Trials go to Sydney.

A great performance on the right day is all it takes. Sound simple? It really isn't, according to Steve Chappell, general manager of UCS/Spirit, the Carson City-based company that specializes in manufacturing track and field equipment. UCS is the official supplier of equipment for USA Track and Field as well as for the Olympic Games in Sydney.

"This is a big country and you have to go with the democratic process," Steve Chappell said Monday afternoon, smiling as he prepared a shipment of hurdles destined for the Hornet Stadium track. "You always have to make it first, and the Olympic Trials is not an easy meet."

Literally, anything can happen. Remember the Dan and Dave buildup. Their decathlon showdown in Barcelona never materialized when Dan O'Brien no-heighted in the pole vault at the U.S. Trials.

"Anybody who has qualified has a shot to get on the team. They say there's always room for at least one surprise. A good performance on the right day and you can be going to the Olympics," Chappell said.

Jeff Hartwig was one of the surprises at the 1996 U.S. Trials in Atlanta when he cleared 19 feet for the first time and placed second. Today, Hartwig's best of 19-9 is the American record and he is stamped as the man to beat coming into the men's pole vault. The prelims will be held this Friday and the finals on Sunday, and if Hartwig gets past Sacramento, he will be regarded as a gold medal threat in Sydney.

And Stacy Dragila will be the one to beat when the women's pole vault is staged at the end of the Trials. The finals on July 23 can be seen on NBC.

"The women go the last day, they get the prime time spot," Chappell said. "They're the darlings right now, because it's a new event and because of Stacy."

Dragila has vaulted into the limelight, thanks to exposure from her VISA television commercial, and because she has raised the bar of the women's pole vault to a world record height of 15-feet, 1- inches.

"She is definitely getting a lot of attention now. She's the best from what we've seen so far," Chappell said.

There will be challengers because 40 women have qualified for the Trials pole vault, including the University of Nevada's Jennifer Ashcroft (13-1). Former American record holder Mel Mueller is another name to remember, as is Kellie Suttle, who tied Dragila at a recent meet.

There will be other great stories to watch for, of course. Jones in her bid to win five gold medals ... The men's 200-meter showdown between Johnson and Greene ... Bob Kennedy vs. Adam Goucher in the men's 5,000 ... Regina Jacobs vs. Suzy Hamilton Favor in the women's 1,500 ... Anthony Washington and John Godina in the men's discus (Washington is going for his third Olympic Trials title) ...

"The anticipation is great," Chappell said. "When you sit and watch, you always have your favorites and athletes you would like to see make it, but at the same time, you hate to see any of the big stars miss out."

Dave Price is a sports writer for the Nevada Appeal.