Jones, Greene Receive Byes in Big Events

Other than the title of national champion, the most significant prize offered by the USA Outdoor Championships in track and field already has been earned by some of the best athletes.

As a result, Marion Jones and Maurice Greene will not compete in their specialties, the 100 meters, during the meet that runs today through Sunday at Hayward Field.

Both received automatic invitations to the World Championships in August in Seville, Spain, because they are defending champions, having won their respective 100s two years ago in Athens.

Jones and Greene, however, will still display their talents in “Track City USA” for an audience considered the most knowledgeable and enthusiastic in the country.

Jones, the former two-sport star from Thousand Oaks High ranked No. 1 in the world in 1998 in the 100, 200 and long jump, is entered in the latter two events here, although she might be hampered by a knee injury suffered two weeks ago during a meet in her adopted hometown of Raleigh, N.C.

Greene, the Kansas City, Kan., native who trains in Westwood and set the world record of 9.79 seconds in the 100 this month, is involved in the most anticipated race here, the 200 against world record-holder Michael Johnson.

Johnson is not competing in his other individual Olympic gold medal event, the 400, but has the option to run it in Seville because of his ’97 world championship.

Two other defending world champions choosing to compete here despite their exemptions are John Godina in the shotput and Allen Johnson in the 110 high hurdles. Godina, formerly of UCLA, also has entered the discus throw.