In the Short Run, Jones Might Not Be Missed

It’s not good to be the queen in France.

Ask Marie Jose-Perec. The double gold medalist in Atlanta in the 200 and 400 sprinted and modeled her way to fame and fortune in her adopted country, then developed a case of Cathy-Freemanitis four years later, deserted the French Olympic team before the opening ceremony in Sydney and returned home in disgrace. The guillotine might have awaited her, had she not already lost her head.

So perhaps Marion Jones is fortunate that young Tim Montgomery, the son she shares with life/training partner Tim Montgomery the elder, came along in June to prevent her from competing in track and field’s World Championships, which begin tonight at Stade de France.

A rare loss, such as the one she experienced two years ago in the 100 at the worlds in Edmonton, might have been interpreted as another American affront to the French, who were eager to promote her as the face of these championships. Her star might have fallen here as rapidly as Serena Williams’ did when she was booed last spring at Roland Garros.

Jones’ absence, as long as it is temporary, might also prove beneficial to the sport because it, along with the injury to British distance star Paula Radcliffe, the unpredictability of U.S. sprinters Montgomery and Maurice Greene and the aging of Ethiopian distance marvel Haile Gebreselassie, has left uncertainty.

There will not be one face, or even two or three or four, at track and field’s most prestigious event outside of the Olympics. There will be many. What could be more appropriate in egalitarian France?

*

Parity in the medal standings has become a trend since the collapse of the Eastern Bloc. In each of the two most recent World Championships, in 1999 and 2001, 42 countries won medals.

“World Championships in most sports don’t even have 42 countries competing,” Craig Masback, chief executive of USA Track & Field, said Friday.

But these championships could be unique in that emerging nations are expected to provide the sport’s emerging stars.

Without Jones in the women’s 100 and 200, the favorites in those races are from the Bahamas, Chanda Sturrup in the 100 and Debbie Ferguson in the 200. Jones, here as a commentator for EuroSport, might have much to say about Sturrup, who trains with the man who formerly coached Jones and Montgomery before a falling out.

Ana Guevara, who was most responsible for the sellout of June’s meet in Carson, has won 23 consecutive races in the women’s 400 since finishing third in Edmonton. If she continues her streak here, she will be the first Mexican, other than walkers, to win a gold medal in the World Championships.

Felix Sanchez, here to defend his 400 hurdles title, has become almost as popular in his country, the Dominican Republic, as Pedro Martinez and Sammy Sosa.

Turkey could have its first world champion in Sureyva Ayhan, who recently reduced the world’s season best in the women’s 1,500 by almost four seconds to 3:55.60.

Qatar could have its first world champion in Saif Saeed Shaheen.

Now there’s a story. Shaheen is a former Kenyan steeplechaser who until this summer was known as Stephen Cherono. In fact, in Kenya, where he still trains, he is still known as Stephen Cherono.

“To me, his name is not a problem,” said defending steeplechase champion Reuben Kosgei of Kenya. “I call him Cherono. It takes some time to practice his new name.”

Cherono was recruited by Qatar’s ambitious track and field federation and fast-tracked for citizenship. Kenya didn’t object.

Officials from both countries deny media speculation that money changed hands.

Now Cherono is among the favorites here along with three Kenyans, including his brother, Abraham.

*

And what to make of U.S. chances?

Masback says the Americans are still the world’s greatest track and field team and they very well could prove it again. They don’t have as many marquee names as they’ve had in past World Championships with multiple champions such as Carl Lewis, Edwin Moses, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Michael Johnson and Jones, but they remain deeper than most on the men’s side.

Three-time world champions Allen Johnson in the 110-meter hurdles and John Godina in the shotput return, and young sprinters such as John Capel in the 200 and Tyree Washington in the 400, and long jumpers Dwight Phillips and Savante Stringfellow should win medals.

As for the women, three-time champion Gail Devers in the 100 hurdles is the only favorite for an individual gold medal. But they are hardly panicking about next summer’s Olympics because of Jones’ anticipated return in five events.

They also have talented young sprinters such as Kelli White and Allyson Felix, not that Jones is any more concerned about them than she is the Bahamians or anyone else. Until they prove themselves to be in her class, let them eat cake.

Randy Harvey can be reached at randy.harvey@latimes.com.