Nehemiah Will Not Run in Festival : Kingdom’s Come for Hurdles, but Foster Hasn’t Shown Yet

The ‘What-If’ update from the U.S. Olympic Festival, Track and Field Division: World record-holder Renaldo Nehemiah will not run in the 110-meter hurdles here.

Greg Foster, who has the fastest time in the world this year and was the sure thing to compete, may or may not run. Roger Kingdom, the Olympic gold medalist who was thought to be injured and not running, will run.

The scene here was confusing Monday night and Tuesday for all concerned, especially when festival officials indicated that Nehemiah would run on a relay and possibly in the hurdles race.

It was news to Nehemiah. Nehemiah, who had been under contract with the San Francisco 49ers, was recently reinstated as an amateur by the International Amateur Athletic Federation when he announced he was quitting football.

The former wide receiver was cut by the 49ers earlier this summer. Soon after, the U.S. Olympic Committee offered Nehemiah a chance to run here, as a member of the East 400-meter relay team. Officials also said that if anyone pulled out of the hurdles race that Nehemiah could run.

But Ron Stenko, Nehemiah’s agent, told The Times that Nehemiah would not run in the festival.

“The last few days have been so confusing,” Stenko said. “We tried to reach John Moon (coach of the East team) and we tried to reach others there. At this time, we have spoken to no one at the festival.

“Renaldo wanted to run, he had every intention of running. He was going to train through the festival.” Stenko said that Nehemiah would make his return at a meet in Viareggio, Italy, next Wednesday.

“Frankly, we did consider that the festival was in the United States and that the American press would be in Houston,” he said. “I don’t know how many sports writers will be in Viareggio. However, since he was unsure of his situation, he trained too hard and will not be ready to go by then. Unfortunately, the coaches felt they couldn’t move anyone off the team. That’s understandable.”

Nehemiah, 27, holds the world record of 12.93 seconds. He is the only hurdler ever to run the race in less than 13 seconds. His last race was the Millrose Games in New York, Feb. 12, 1982.

Since Nehemiah did not automatically qualify for the Festival team, he could not run here unless someone else dropped out.

The likely candidate would have been Kingdom. Kingdom was tore a hamstring a year ago and has run only once since. Nehemiah assumed, as did most observers here, that Kingdom would not show.

Kingdom was scheduled to run at the national championships in Eugene last month. He was in Eugene but did not compete.

But, Tuesday evening, Kingdom arrived in Houston and expressed surprise with the situation.

“I told John (Moon) that I would by ready for the U.S. Olympic Festival,” Kingdom said in an athlete’s dorm at the University of Houston. “I told him it would be the first meet for me before going overseas. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind during that time that I wouldn’t be in the competition. I didn’t tell anyone during that time that I was injured. I am going to run.”

Foster remains the question mark, although his coach, Bob Kersee, said Tuesday morning that Foster would run. Foster and Nehemiah had one of the most heated and long-lived rivalries in track and field.

“I guarantee you that when Greg finds out that Renaldo is not going to be there, he’s not going to run,” Stenko said. “No way is Foster going to show up. There is no doubt in my mind that he (Foster) was going there to run against Skeets (Nehemiah) in his first meet, when he’s vulnerable. Since when did Foster become so patriotic? The guy has never been interested in running anywhere for free.”

Foster automatically qualified for this competition by winning the national championships but left the meet without signing the proper entry forms. Officials said Foster contacted the festival organizers and asked to be entered.

As it stands, Foster may run the race unattached, in the only open lane, the ninth lane of the track. The race is scheduled for Sunday night.

Foster was traveling and could not be reached for comment.

Nehemiah has been training intensively both in the Bay Area and in Scotch Plain, N.J., with his high school coach, Jean Pouquette. “His practice times have been amazing,” Stenko said. “He’s so confident it scares me. I’ve represented him for eight years and he’s never been like this.”

Nehemiah’s much-publicized jump to professional football came at a time when track and field stars were beginning to earn huge sums. His move was notable because it was estimated that his income dropped considerably when he left track. Nehemiah had a lucrative, multiyear shoe contract with Puma and was a popular and well-paid performer on the European circuit.

Stenko would not say how much money in appearence fees Nehemiah would be receiving in Viareggio but agreed that meet promoters were eager to be the site of his comeback.

“If he performs anything like he feels he is going to perform, the market will decide what he’s worth,” Stenko said. “But he’s definitely up there with Mary Decker, Edwin Moses and Carl Lewis.”

An athlete of the upper strata can command between $10,000-$25,000 per appearence in European meets, with additional bonuses for meet and world records.