TRACK AND FIELD / U.S. CHAMPIONSHIPS : Michael Johnson Wins the 400, Defeating Reynolds and Watts

Entering the 400-meter final in the USA/Mobil Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field Saturday, world record-holder Butch Reynolds surveyed the field, which also included the reigning Olympic and world champions and a runner who twice was ranked No. 1 in the world, and declared it X-rated.

“This is a man’s race,” he said. “The boys must stay home.”

Michael Johnson knew the category in which he belonged, but he did not know whether the other quarter-milers knew. Although he was undefeated in the event since 1988 and was ranked first in the world in 1990 and ‘91, he was aware that his competitors were suspicious of his accomplishments because he specialized in the 200. He did not even enter the 400 in the 1991 World Championships or the 1992 Summer Olympics.

No one doubts him now.

“I think a lot of people thought I was one of the boys until today,” said Johnson after not only beating the star-spangled quarter-milers but doing it decisively in 43.74 seconds, the fastest time ever run in the United States and the fourth-fastest run anywhere.

Only six months after returning from a 2 1/2-year suspension for failing a drug test, then refusing to accept it gracefully, Reynolds, who has the world record of 43.29, finished second in 44.12, his fastest race since his silver-medal performance in the 1988 Summer Olympics.

The 1992 Olympic champion, Quincy Watts, was third in 44.24, having just enough energy to hold off two-time Olympian Andrew Valmon, who was fourth in 44.28. The 1991 world champion, Antonio Pettigrew, was fifth in 44.62.

The first three earned the right to run the 400 in the World Championships in August at Stuttgart, Germany, which was a nice gift for Watts on his 23rd birthday. He reminded reporters that he also finished third in last year’s U.S. Olympic trials before emerging as the event’s best at Barcelona.

Earning an unfavorable Lane 7 with his sub-par semifinal time, Watts went out fast--”firing all my bullets,” he said--but first Johnson and then Reynolds passed him in the stretch. Johnson was in command for the final 100 meters, winning by a full three meters.

“That just validates what I can do,” Johnson said.

It was a day on which the beleaguered sport of track and field also was validated. That could not have come at a more opportune time because the sport made one of its rare national television appearances of the year Saturday. The meet was televised by TNT.

Although track and field is no longer one of the country’s more popular sports, this meet proved that, if managed properly and supported by the athletes, it can still be one of the most enjoyable.

In a locale known as “Track Town, USA,” a crowd of 10,653 came out on a partly cloudy afternoon to see virtually every top U.S. track and field athlete. Even Dave Johnson of “Dan and Dave” fame, unable to enter the decathlon earlier in the week because of an injury, made a cameo appearance in the javelin, finishing seventh.

The locals were rewarded when one of their own, Annette Peters, formerly of the University of Oregon and now a Springfield, Ore., elementary school teacher, scored an upset in the 1,500 meters to go along with her 3,000 victory two days earlier.

Two other athletes won their second individual events Saturday. Connie Price-Smith became the shotput champion after earlier winning the discus throw, and Jackie Joyner-Kersee added a victory in the long jump to her heptathlon title. Between those two events, she owns 10 national championships.

Joyner-Kersee, however, has not gained domestic tranquillity. Her husband/coach, Bob Kersee, again insisted that she will compete only in the heptathlon at Stuttgart, although she desperately also wants to long jump.

“The argument has been won,” Kersee said. “She just doesn’t know it yet. Would someone inform her?”

Said Joyner-Kersee: “I’m sure Bobby will come to his senses. Sometimes he’s a little delusionary.”

In the men’s long jump, Mike Powell, the world record-holder at 29 feet 4 1/2 inches, won with a wind-aided best of 28-0. It was the first time in several years that he has not had to contend in a major competition with Carl Lewis, who, amid Powell’s fourth jump, was settling in the blocks for the 200 meters.

Not so long ago, Lewis made headlines when he lost. It is not so unusual now. Two days after he finished third in the 100 meters, he was second in the 200 in a wind-aided 20.07. Michael Marsh, the Olympic champion, won in 19.97.

But, less than two weeks shy of his 32nd birthday, Lewis warned that he should not be counted out at the World Championships.

“I’ll tell you when I feel old,” he said.

Looking old Saturday was Leroy Burrell, 26, who was the world record-holder in the 100 only two years ago. But, complaining of soreness in his hamstring, he finished fifth in the 100 and fourth in the 200 in this meet.

“He’s a strong cat,” Marsh said of Burrell. “He’ll be back. Everybody loves a comeback story.”

Everybody also loves a come-from-nowhere story. Jason Hendrix actually came from Blinn Junior College in Brenham, Tex., but he was such an unknown entering the national championships that he was not listed in USA Track & Field’s media guide. Now, he is going to Stuttgart as the third-place finisher in the 200.

That, however, has not made him famous. Not yet.

Asked about Hendrix, Lewis said: “Who is he? I’m not trying to be ugly; I just don’t know who he is.”