Reynolds Is Fast, but Watts Is Faster : Olympic trials: USC sprinter runs fastest 400 since the 1988 Olympics, 43.97 seconds, as both runners advance to the final.

Athletic performance began to outshine legal intrigue in the semifinals of the men’s 400 meters Wednesday night, and Quincy Watts shone brightest.

Watts, a senior at USC, was the fastest qualifier to advance to the finals in a time of 43.97 seconds--the fastest time in the world since the 1988 Olympics. Only three people in history have run faster.

One who has is Butch Reynolds, the world record-holder who was upstaged by Watts in the same heat. Reynolds finished second in 44.14, also an impressive time.

Both advanced to the final, originally scheduled for Wednesday night but which will take place Friday night. Also advancing were Steve Lewis, the 1988 gold medalist, and Danny Everett, the bronze medalist.

In the event’s only upset, world champion Antonio Pettigrew failed to advance.

Although Watts need not have extended himself in order to make the final, he and coach John Smith planned a fast, smart race.

“We wanted to give Butch a gut-check, and find out where (Quincy) is, too,” Smithsaid.

The conditions were perfect for such a test--warm with low humidity at race time. Watts ran in lane 3 and Reynolds in lane 5, and both got out well. Reynolds made a move at 180 meters but came off the final turn slightly behind Watts.

Having qualified for the final, both runners slowed in the last five meters. “I looked over and I felt like I had a little security,” said Watts, who had no idea how fast he had run.

“The way Butch has been running, I felt it was pretty fast coming down the back stretch.”

Reynolds is serving a two-year drug ban and is running in the trials under order of the U.S. Supreme Court. He arrived at the track accompanied by the usual commotion and received an ovation from the fans, who appear to have claimed him as an underdog.

That is not a role that fits Reynolds when he is on the track. The 26-year-old from Columbus, Ohio, has been dominant. Wednesday’s race was the first loss for Reynolds in the seven races he has run this season.

“I still feel like there is too much happening,” Reynolds said. “What a lot of people don’t realize is that I’m racing for my life on and off the track and the competition is the best in the world.”

A federal judge will rule today on whether to overturn a West Virginia circuit court judge’s ruling to allow suspended shotputter Randy Barnes to compete in the trials.

U.S. District Judge John T. Copenhaver heard arguments Wednesday from attorneys for Barnes and TAC. James Coleman, TAC’s attorney, told the judge that Barnes has not exhausted all his administrative appeals, usually a prerequisite in such a case.

Barnes’ attorney, Anne Shaffer, said Barnes believes appeals would be fruitless.

Barnes, 1988 silver medalist and world record-holder, tested positive for anabolic steroids in 1990 but has maintained his innocence.