LINFORD CHRISTIE had the tables turned on him last night here by training partner Frankie Fredericks who missed becoming the world's fastest man by the smallest possible margin.
Michael Johnson, meanwhile, duly won the 400 metres in 43.66 seconds, pulling Roger Black through to second place in a British record of 44.37.
Christie finished only fifth in the 100m and Fredericks who has been training all year with the Olympic champion under his coach, Ron Roddan, ran 9.86 seconds to come within 100th of a second of Leroy Burrell's world record, set on the same track almost two years ago to the day.
And if the Namibian flyer had not celebrated too early by throwing his arms in the air on the line rather than running through it the record would surely have been his. Instead he joined Carl Lewis as second on the all time list.
While Fredericks did not look at the clock until he had crossed the line, the seventh placed Burrell had a quick glance at it as Fredericks broke the tape, and must have breathed a sight of relief.
But Sally Gunnell suffered a crushing blow to her Olympic plans when she limped out of the 400 metres hurdles race.
The defending champion pulled up after feeling a sharp pain coming off the sixth barrier during a clash with top Americans Tonya Buford and Kim Batten.
She went off for treatment clutching her left foot amid fears of Achilles tendon damage.
Gunnell was ruled ou4 of her defence of the world title last year by a heel injury in her right foot and was on crutches for a month.
Tomorrow she will see the Swiss doctor who operated on that foot, desperately hoping she does not need more surgery.
"I don't think I could go through with another operation, said the 29 year old British women's team captain.
Fredericks, who had posted his world record potential when he ran 9.87 on a cold night in Helsinki last week, was one of three men to dip under 10 seconds in the won race Canada's Donovan Bailey, the world champion finished second in 9.93 with Trinidad's Ato Boldon third in 9.9.
It brought the Olympian task facing Christie sharply into focus. He was never involved at the sharp end of the race, and his 10.04 left him 0.04 behind Jon Drummond, another of his Atlanta rivals.
Since working with Christie, Fredericks has been performing as though someone has suddenly put his body in fast forward. The man who looks like he is running with a red hot poker up his backside has surely never accelerated like he did here as he destroyed a field which has cost organisers to assemble, and was year's World championships.
Once Fredericks was over the line, the celebrations began in earnest and it was Christie who gas the first to shake his hand. "These were the best people I've raced against in all my life and to beat all of them was fantastic," said Fredericks.
Leaving aside the 9.79 sham of Seoul, the indications are that, pushed by the same field on the super fast surface in Atlanta, Fredericks might run faster this summer than Ben Johnson did in Rome nine summers ago when his 9.83, on his own admission, was also tainted.
That is presuming, of course, he runs in the 100m. The 1992 double Olympic silver medalist is ready to leave his options open over whether to do that distance or the 200m as late as possible. "I'm entered in both but I have to sit down with my coach and decide," he said.
Johnson, confirming his invincibility, blazed to a one sided victory after a curious start, during which he allowed compatriot Darnell Hall to lead for the first 200 metres But running the choppy, upright style reminiscent of the great Jessie Owens, John son moved down the home straight like a bullet, his cheeks puffing out in quick breaths as his gold chain bounced on his chest. Passing through the finish line all alone. he held his arms aloft before setting off on yet another victory lap.
Even though he came up short in his bid for a world record, surely it is only a matter of time before he adds it to his 200mark he established at the US Olympic trials last month.
Black once more confirmed his position as the best quarter miler outside the US as he shaved 0.02 off the British record he had set in Birmingham two weeks ago. "I'm surprised I ran so fast because I haven't been feeling too good lately," he said. "But I'm pleased to be running 44.3 consistently. Consistency that's the to this game."
The 15,000 crowd was given a taste of what was to come early ton in the 400m B race, where Britain's Mark Richardson and Jamie Baulch, neither of whom had been selected for an individual place at the Olympics, moved fifth and sixth respectively on East Gernian Thomas Schonlebe and three other Britons.
