MICHAEL JOHNSON broke athletics' oldest world record when he clocked 19.66 seconds in the 200 metres at the US Olympic trials in Atlanta last night. Italian Pietro Mennea set the previous record of 19.72 seconds at Mexico City on September 12th, 1979.

Johnson raised his arms in the air in triumph when he saw the time and then posed for photographers at the timer. The wind registered a legal 1.7 metres per second.

Johnson ran 19.70 in the semifinals on Saturday, but a tail wind of 2.7 prevented it from being recognised as a world record. With his unique, upright running style, Johnson produced a furious bend run to win his 21st consecutive 200m.

The 28-year-old Texan now hopes to become the first man to win the 200m and 400m in the same Olympics.

He did the double at last year's World Championships and persuaded the International Amateur Athletic Federation to change the Olympic schedule so that he would have a better chance in Atlanta.

Jeff Williams finished second in 20.03, and 1992 Olympic champion Michael Marsh was third in 20.04 to join Johnson on the US 200-metre team.

Eight-time Olympic champion Carl Lewis, running from lane one, finished fifth in 20.20, behind Ramon Clay, who clocked 20.08. Lewis had already made the team in the long-jump.

Johnson dropped out of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics 200m semi-finals after suffering from food poisoning before the Games.

He and Barcelona silver medallist Frankie Fredericks will offer a preview of the Olympic 200m when they clash at that distance in Olso on July 5th, organisers said.

Johnson also plans to run the 400m at Lausanne on July 3rd and another 200m at Stockholm on July 8th.

Also last night, world champion Allen Johnson equalled the second fastest I 10m hurdles ever when he clocked 12.92 seconds at the trials.

His time was one-hundredth of a second off Colin Jackson's world record of 12.91 and equalled Roger Kingdom's US record.

Mark Crear took second in 13.05 and Eugene Swift became the other US Olympian at 13.21.

Olympic 200m champion Gwen Torrence failed to make the US team in the event when she could manage no better than fourth.

Torrence was edged out for the third and final spot in the event by Inger Miller as both clocked 22.25 seconds. Carlette Guidry won in 22.14, the fastest time in the world this year. Dannette Young was second in 22.18.

But Torrence will represent the US in the 100m at the Games.