Olympic roundup \ News and trial results

Gymnastics: Start looking for the passports and the big suitcases, Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin have their trips to the Beijing Olympics all but locked up. The best Americans showed why they’re also the best in the world Friday night, all but sealing spots on a team that will be favored to win the gold medal in Beijing. Johnson edged Liukin again, just as she did at the national championships two weeks ago, but the margin is so small, it could be erased with a stuck landing from one or a bobble by the other. Johnson finished with 64 points and Liukin was right behind at 63.5. The finals are Sunday night, with the top two earning spots on the Beijing squad. But, barring injury, there’s little doubt of who that will be, so the intrigue turns to who will get the remaining four spots. The rest of the team, along with three alternates, will be chosen after a July 20 selection camp at the Karolyi ranch. Comeback kid Chellsie Memmel had another strong night. Memmel became only the third U.S. woman to win the world all-around title in 2005 (Johnson has since joined the exclusive club) but she was all but forgotten after a blown-out shoulder cost her most of the last two years.

Track: Banned sprinter Justin Gatlin finally won a round in his bid to defend his 100-meter title at the Beijing Olympics. His chances of ultimate success, though, still faced significant, perhaps insurmountable, obstacles. A Florida federal judge ruled Friday that Gatlin should be allowed to compete at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials, which begin June 27 in Eugene, Ore. U.S. District Judge Lacey A. Collier’s temporary restraining order is in effect for 10 days at present. The first two rounds of the 100-meter qualifying are set for June 28. The semifinals and finals are the following day. Joe Zarzaur, Gatlin’s third attorney in his dogged attempts at reinstatement, said his client is “guardedly, cautiously optimistic” but added the judge could change the decision. A Monday hearing in Pensacola has been set to discuss the order, and Gatlin is expected to attend. Any U.S. court ruling might not be enforceable anyway because the International Association of Athletics Federations, which oversees the sport, and the International Olympic Committee, are not based in the United States. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said Gatlin has already exhausted his agreed-to appeals process. “Mr. Gatlin’s defenses to his steroid doping violation have already been fully considered and rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport which he agreed has exclusive jurisdiction over this matter,” USADA spokeswoman Erin Hannan said in a statement. “We appreciate having our first opportunity to provide this court with the facts as to why that arbitration decision was in the best interest of clean athletes.” The U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Track Field said their representatives would be in court Monday for the hearing.

Diving: With a string of perfect 10s, Laura Wilkinson and Troy Dumais appear to be Beijing bound. Wilkinson, who won gold on the 10-meter platform at the 2000 Olympics, showed she’s still the boss of the tower at the U.S. Olympic trials, holding off a challenger half her age in the semifinals Friday night. The 30-year-old Texan received at least one 10 on three of her five dives and finished with 813.20 points. She had a comfortable advantage over 15-year-old Haley Ishimatsu, who finished with four 10s and the highest-scoring dive of the night but was still only second at 757.55. Wilkinson can lock up her third trip to the Olympics in the finals Sunday. Dumais, who declared his goal for Beijing was “gold or go home,” was just as good in the semis of 3-meter springboard. The two-time Olympian received 10s on three of his six dives to build a commanding lead with 1038.30 points. Chris Colwill was second at 961.00. The springboard finals are Saturday.

Associated Press