Lewis’ Last Tour Stops at Mt. SAC

The Carl Lewis “Victory Lap” tour, expected to take the nine-time Olympic gold medalist from here to retirement, makes its only Southern California stop today when Lewis runs two final races during the invitational portion of the Mt. SAC Relays at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut.

Lewis, 35, is entered in two relays--the 100-meter relay and the sprint medley--in what he says will be his last local competition.

Lewis is expected to anchor the Santa Monica Track Club’s 100-meter relay team, which includes 1992 Olympic 200-meter gold medalist Mike Marsh, former 100-meter world-record holder Leroy Burrell and Floyd Heard. Lewis is also scheduled to run a 200-meter leg in the sprint relay, joined by Santa Monica teammates Heard, Lamont Smith and Johnny Gray.

The men’s 100-meter relay and 100-meter sprint are the featured events in today’s invitational meet, which begins at 10 a.m. Burrell and Marsh are entered in the 100 along with Jon Drummond, a member of the United States’ 1996 Olympic silver medal-winning 100-meter relay team, Maurice Greene and Jeff Williams.

In the 100-meter relay, Santa Monica will be challenged by an H.S. International team led by Drummond and Ato Boldon, bronze medalist in the 100- and 200-meter sprints last year in Atlanta.

Other notable competitors entered in the men’s portion of today’s meet include:

* Quincy Watts in the 400 meters, an event he won in the 1992 Olympics. Expected to join him in the field will be Smith, Alvin and Calvin Harrison, Anthuan Maybank and current NCAA champion Gregory Haughton.

* Allen Johnson, 1996 Olympic champion, in the 110-meter hurdles.

* Kevin Young, 1992 Olympic champion, in the 400-meter hurdles.

* Joe Greene, two-time Olympic bronze medalist, in the long jump.

* Balasz Kiss, the 1996 Olympic gold medalist from Hungary, in the hammer throw.

* John Godina, 1996 Olympic silver medalist, in the shotput.

* Tom Pukstys, current American record holder, in the javelin.

Today’s women’s field is highlighted by a matchup between Ruth Wysocki and Stephanie Best in the mile. At the venerable age of 40, Wysocki ran 4:15 in a 1,500-meter race last month. Best won the national indoor championship in this event last year.

Inger Miller, a member of the United States’ gold medal-winning 100-meter women’s relay team in Atlanta, is entered in the 100- and 200-meter relays.

Falilat Ogunkoya, who won a women’s 400-meter Olympic bronze medal for Nigeria last summer, will run in the 100- and 200-meter sprints.

Mary Slaney had been expected to join Sara Thorsett, Suzy Hamilton and Amy Wickus on an 800-meter relay team but won’t run today because of an injury.

Today’s invitational competition begins at 10 a.m. with the women’s hammer throw. Opening ceremonies are scheduled for 2 p.m., with the final event, men’s 400-meter relay, expected to start at 6:30.