Injury forces US sprinter to pull out of 100m

Sydney: World 200 metres champion Inger Miller of the United States said on Wednesday she had pulled out of the Sydney Olympics 100 metres after injuring a hamstring in her left leg this month.

Miller was considered the biggest threat to team mate Marion Jones in both the 100 and 200 metres. The first two rounds of the 100 metres heats are scheduled for the opening day of the athletics programme on Friday.

"I have pulled out of the 100 because of a hamstring strain," Miller told a news conference. "I didn't want to jeopardise the whole event. It's getting better by the day and it was possible I would have been okay by Friday but I cannot risk it."

Miller, 28, said she still hoped to run in the first round of the 200 metres next Wednesday and in the 4x100 metres relay the following weekend.

"I hope by Wednesday things will be a bit brighter for me," she said. "I think I will be all right."

Miller, who said she had sustained her injury while training in Los Angeles on September 7, will be replaced in the 100 metres by Torri Edwards, who finished fourth in the US trials.



(c) Reuters Limited.