THE WORLD record holder, Kim Batten, looking forward to" an Olympic showdown with 1992 gold medalist Sally Gunnell, ran the fastest women's 400 metre hurdles of the year on Sunday in an impressive showing by American hurdlers at the US Olympic trials.
Batten, who has been hampered by foot and ankle problems this spring, won in 53.81 seconds to lead world silver medallist Tonja Buford Bailey and Olympic silver medallist Sandra Farmer Patrick to the top three times of the season.
Newcomer Bryan Bronson then posted the fastest men's time of the year, 47.98 seconds.
"She's a great competitor," Batten said of Gunnell, "but I'm not going to bow down to her.
"In 1995, I took her world record. In 1996, I feel I'm going to be the Olympic champion."
Batten failed to make the US team for Barcelona, where Gunnell claimed gold. An injured Gunnell was absent from the 1995 World Championships as Batten lowered the Briton's world record to 52.61 seconds with Buford Bailey one hundredth of a second behind.
Buford Bailey clocked 53.92 seconds on Sunday, with FarmerPatrick third in 54.07 seconds.
In the men's race, Bronson went over the last hurdle level with world champion Derrick Adkins and then dramatically won the run in.
"I thought if I could be close at hurdle 10 I could out sprint him at the end," said Bronson.
Adkins, the hometown favourite, finished in 48.18 seconds with Calvin Davis taking the final US spot in 48.32 seconds.
The top three finishers in the trials qualify for the Atlanta Olympics next month.
American record holder Lawrence Johnson survived technical problems to become the first black US Olympian in the pole vault. He cleared, 5.80 metres (19 feet, /4 inch).
World champion Michael Johnson had an easier time, loping through the second round of the men's 400 metres in 45.11 seconds.
Two time British Olympian Roald Bradstock kept alive a slim hope of making his first US team despite finishing fifth in the javelin final at 77.24 metres (253 feet, 5 inches).
An American citizen since 1995, Bradstock is only one of three US throwers to meet the Olympic standard of 80 metres (262 feet, 5 inches) this year." He could make the team if third place finisher Breaux Greer and fourth finisher Dave Stephens do not obtain the standard by July 16th.
