Athletics: Marion Jones aims high at US champs

Marion Jones

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana - Former Olympic sprint queen Marion Jones hopes to turn back the clock on her once-illustrious career at the US championships, which begin on Thursday.

The 2000 triple Olympic champion has entered the 100 and 200 meters at the stadium where she launched her professional career nine years ago.

Now 30, Jones has not won a national sprint title in four years as her career has gone from glittering to mediocre with accusations of past doping although she has never failed a drugs test and has always denied using banned substances.

"It's been a really difficult three or four years, and I think that has shown in my times and my performances," Jones told reporters in New York earlier this month.

"(But) I feel like I still have more to achieve in the sport." she said.

Slowed by childbirth in 2003 and the scrutiny of the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in connection with the BALCO doping scandal, she did not win a medal at the 2004 Olympics and failed to qualify for the US team for last year's world championships.

But three consecutive 100 meters victories this season, including a triumph in New York over Olympic bronze medalist Veronica Campbell, 2003 world champion Torri Edwards and current world champion Lauryn Williams, have renewed her confidence.

"Now I know I can step out there with the best sprinters in the world and compete," Jones said after winning the race in 11.06 seconds, her fastest time since 2004.

World's best

While the mark pales in comparison to her 1998 personal best of 10.65, her coach believes she can again be among the world's best.

"I would not tell you she is going to run 10.50 (in the US championships)," Steve Riddick told Reuters. "But I would say she is going to break 11 seconds."

Only Jamaican Campbell has run that fast this year.

"She has worked and worked until she looks like she has never had a baby," Riddick said in a telephone interview.

"The abs and hips are the baby area, and you've got to fix it up (to be able to run fast) and she has fixed it."

The 200 meters will be a bigger challenge.

Jones has not excelled in the event since 2002 and needed to petition as a former champion for entry into this week's competition.

"But she has been running some good 250s (meters) in training as well as 180s and 150s, so she will be OK," Riddick said.

- REUTERS