TRACK AND FIELD : Johnson, Foster Drop Out of Competition

No sooner had the track and field competition begun Thursday than it immediately lost much of its luster when decathlete Dave Johnson dropped out after the first event.

Johnson, one of the favorites to win a medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics at Barcelona, Spain, competed in the first of the decathlon events, the 100 meters, but quit the competition after placing third.

Johnson, of Pomona, said he felt a twinge in his left knee and didn’t want to jeopardize his chances for next month’s World Championships at Tokyo.

“Some tendinitis that was developing Monday decided to come in today,” Johnson said. “It’s not extremely bad, but it could (get worse) if I went on today. I need to save that knee for the World Championships.”

Johnson’s withdrawal left Thursday’s competition without its main attraction.

There is bad news for today’s competition, too. Greg Foster will not be competing in the 110-meter hurdles.

According to Festival track and field commissioner Phil Henson, Foster could not get back from Europe in time to compete here. He ran in Rome Wednesday and is entered in Saturday’s New York Games. Henson said he was notified Tuesday that Foster would not be here. However, not until reporters inquired about it Thursday did track officials alert the media to Foster’s withdrawal.

“I don’t know why we didn’t get it out,’ Henson said. “It’s not like we were trying to boost attendance.”

Speaking of which, ticket sales were announced as 2,250, but no more than 500 fans were present at UCLA’s Drake Stadium on a cool, overcast day.

Johnson appeared fine as he lined up for the 100 meters. But two false starts and one call-back strained his already-tender knee. He was third in 11.12 seconds.

Johnson had said he hoped to compile as many as 4,300 or 4,400 points on the event’s first day, his weakest. Johnson said he has only withdrawn from one other decathlon, in 1987 when he had a bone spur in his ankle.

Ricky Barker of Euless, Tex., was leading after the first day with 4,147 points.

In other events, USC quarter-miler Quincy Watts was second in the 400, in a time of 45.84. Charles Jenkins of Villanova, Pa., won in 45.57. Watts, who has qualified for the World Championships, said he has been battling strep throat for more than a week.

Sydney Maree was fifth in the 5,000 meters in 14:06.42, well behind Jeff Canada of Phoenix, who won easily in 13:55.98. Maree has missed most of two season with various injuries.

“Beautiful event, an exciting race if you’re ready for it,” Maree said. “Someone said the last 2,000 meters are like climbing the steps to hell.

“I hope to be competitive by the end of the summer. This is not indicative of my fitness level. It’s indicative of my pace level.”

In the women’s 10,000, Mindy Rowand-Schmidt of Ann Arbor, Mich., set a Drake Stadium record with 33:07.35. That bettered the record of 33:15.09 set by Peg Neppel of Iowa State in 1977.