Future of U.S. track

Jones hopes she can carry sport back to where it was

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Posted: Tuesday July 21, 1998 08:34 PM

Jones is motivated by many things, including the intense trash talking

UNIONDALE, New York (AP) -- Marion Jones' success is turning off opponents and turning on sponsors.

Jones is undefeated in 24 finals this year in six different events - the 100, 200 and 400 meters, the 400 relay, the long jump and the indoor 60 meters. She has won with such relative ease that her rivals are becoming resentful.

"It began last year when I came out from basketball and stepped on the track," Jones said Tuesday, one day after completing a sensational sprint double at the Goodwill Games. "I felt the resentment."

Jones has proven to be unbeatable, and the jealousy has turned to intense trash-talking.

"I've heard a lot of it the last couple of weeks," she said. "There was always a lot of trash-talking among the men's sprinters, but not so much among the women. Now, it's gotten to the women.

"They say things like, `We know your secret. One wrong move and we'll beat you, and all your success will come crumbling down.'"

Jones said all the psychological warfare was coming from the sprinters, not the long jumpers, and none of it involved drugs.

"I've had a lot of things to motivate me," Jones said, "and this is just another thing."

Jones showed her motivation in Monday night's 200. She blasted out of the blocks, made up the stagger when the field reached the curve and powered down the stretch before slowing near the finish to win in 21.80 seconds.

"I had built up a lot of anticipation for this race," she said. "A couple of people, not everybody, had been saying a lot of things. They didn't work. Maybe they'll have to try something else.

"Maybe, in a way, it's good. It's putting a little excitement into the women's events. That's what we need. But maybe they need to look at their inner strength."

Inner strength just happens to be the ad campaign of TAG Heuer, the Paris-based sports watch company that recently signed Jones as a spokeswoman. She also has contracts with Nike and Oakley, and has rejected many other deals from companies anxious to sign her as she heads toward the 2000 Olympics and her goal of winning a record five gold medals - in the 100, 200, long jump, and 400 and 1,600 relays.

Jones, who won the 100 in 10.90 Sunday night, is saddened by the low state of track and field in the United States.

"When I go to Europe, I get mobbed," she said, "but when I come back to the United States, it's more laid-back. Not many people are aware of who I am. It's sad for a U.S. athlete. All the hard work we put in is not recognized.

"I hope I can carry the sport back to where it once was. The enthusiasm at the Goodwill Games gives me a glimmer of hope. Next year, I hope the bubble doesn't pop."

Related information
Stories
Watch Jones' gold medal run in the 200 O'Brien wins decathlon; Jones sprints to second Goodwill gold A touch of class - Viewpoint from TBS track analyst Carol Lewis
Multimedia
Jones on the prospect of becoming a track and field superstar (570 K) Jones explains why she gave up basketball and returned to track and field (464 K) Jones on dealing with her success and fame (395 K) Click here for the latest audio and video
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