Felix Begins Medal Quest

Here, in capsule form, are the events that will be highlighted today in Athens:

Track and Field

Today’s finals are the women’s 20-kilometer race walk, the women’s triple jump, men’s discus throw, women’s 800 and 5,000, and men’s 400.

Also of interest are the first two rounds of the women’s 200. Marion Jones’ withdrawal from the 200 at the U.S. trials means a new champion will be crowned. The world’s fastest time this year is 22.18 seconds by Veronica Campbell of Jamaica, who won bronze in the 100. The second-fastest time, 22.28, was recorded by Allyson Felix of Los Angeles.

In the men’s 400, Alleyne Francique of Grenada is the likeliest candidate to break up a U.S. sweep. Jeremy Wariner of Baylor ran a world-leading 44.37 at the U.S. trials, 0.10 of a second ahead of Francique’s top mark at Osaka in May. Derrick Brew and Otis Harris should also contend.

There are no U.S. competitors in the women’s 5,000 or triple-jump finals.

Also, the decathlon will get underway with competition in the 100-meter dash, long jump, shotput, high jump and 400.

Helene Elliott

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Men’s Basketball

Angola, the United States’ opponent today, has lost all four of its preliminary games. Regardless of today’s outcome, the U.S. (2-2) is assured of a slot in the single-elimination quarterfinals.

Steve Springer

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Beach Volleyball

The opponents in one of today’s semifinal matches are familiar: Holly McPeak and Elaine Youngs face the other U.S. team, top-ranked Misty May and Kerri Walsh. The winner will play Tuesday for the gold medal.

The four Americans know each other well. No hard feelings, Youngs said, but “If it means winning a gold medal, we would beat our mothers out there.”

Alan Abrahamson

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Water Polo

A quarterfinal berth is on the line for the U.S. men in tonight’s game against third-ranked Serbia and Montenegro. The rugged competition in the so-called pool of death has left the U.S. with a 2-2 record in Group A.

Serbia and Montenegro, which won the bronze medal in the 2000 Olympics, is 3-1 in Group A. The lone undefeated team in the tournament is Hungary (4-0).

The man to watch from Serbia is Alexander Sapic, who scored five times in its 11-8 victory against Croatia on Saturday. Serbia and the U.S. have split their last two meetings.

-- Lisa Dillman