Jones Last, but She Advances

Another day, another report of a positive drug test and another cold shoulder from Marion Jones, who slowly but surely advanced to the semifinals of the women’s 200 at the Olympic trials.

With 18 runners moving on from a quarterfinal field pared to 19 by a flurry of withdrawals, Jones was last in her heat in 22.93 seconds, the 10th-fastest time. Jones, who won the 200 at Sydney but missed the U.S. team in the 100 last weekend, left Hornet Field smiling but silent, sandwiched between two bodyguards.

Torri Edwards, who on Thursday blamed a tainted glucose tablet for her positive test for the banned stimulant nikethamide in April, led the qualifiers in 22.60 seconds. “It felt good,” she said, but spurned other questions.

Edwards got support from Inger Miller, her training partner with the Los Angeles-based HSI group. “I support doping testing and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and everything they’re trying to do,” Miller said after running a 22.74 and advancing to today’s semifinals, “but there are other Olympic sports that have positive tests. They’re dragging us through the mud.”

HSI’s Mickey Grimes, who sources said Friday had tested positive for a banned steroid earlier this year, declined to comment after he won his heat of the men’s 200 in 20.39. Maurice Greene, winner of the men’s 100, pulled out of the 200.

Shawn Crawford sprinted to a world-best 19.88 in the third heat, beating the 19.93 run in April by Usain Bolt of Jamaica. Justin Gatlin had the second-best time, 20.06.

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Deena Drossin Kastor of Mammoth Lakes broke her trials record in the 10,000 by winning in 31 minutes, 9.65 seconds. Kastor also has a berth in the marathon.... Marla Runyan held off Suzy Favor Hamilton to win their heat of the 1,500 in 4:09.63. Runyan has an Athens berth in the 5,000.... Alan Webb advanced to the men’s 1,500 final with a time of 3:39.92.... Tom Pappas led halfway through the decathlon with 4,474 points. Bryan Clay is second at 4,471.... Laura Gerraughty won the women’s shotput at 60 feet 8 1/2 inches. She and runner-up Kristin Heaston will go to Athens.

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U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials

* When: Today through Sunday.

* Where: Cal State Sacramento.

* TV today: 2 p.m., Channel 4.

* Finals today: Men’s 20,000-meter race walk, men’s javelin, men’s triple jump, women’s 400.