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August 25, 2004 7:28 pm

200 final shapes up as dynamite 100 rematch

By ELLIOTT DENMAN

Gannett News Service

ATHENS, Greece - If Sunday night's men's 100-meter final was dynamite, the 200 final on Thursday night should be a double blast.

Four of the eight principal cast members return - Americans Justin Gatlin and Shawn Crawford, Portugal's Francis Obikwelu and Jamaica's Asafa Powell.

New to the lineup will be Team USA's Bernard Williams, veteran Frankie Fredericks of Namibia, Stephane Buckland of Mauritius and Tobias Unger of Germany.

Two semifinal races Wednesday night offered few clues to the eventual outcome.

Raleigh, N.C., training partners Gatlin and Crawford have a 1-2 - or a 2-1 - on their minds. Teammate Williams plans to get in on the monopoly, too, and make it a three-way combination.

It will surprise no one if Thursday night's final provides every bit as much suspense and surprise as Gatlin's oh-so-close victory in Sunday's 100.

Crawford, the ex-Clemson star, cruised to victory in the first 200 semifinal in 20.05, easing up as he crossed the line.

Right behind was Baltimore's Williams (20.18).

Then it was Gatlin's turn, and again it was a breeze. The ex-Tennessee star clocked a subdued 20.35 in the second semifinal, good enough to hold off Obikwelu (20.36.)

Buckland was next across in 20.37 and gives his tiny island nation a chance for major recognition on a global sports stage for the first time.

The Americans weren't talking after their semifinal runs. ``Nothing new to discuss today; we'll see you tomorrow'' was the implied message.

Obikwelu had his own view: ``The USA guys look very good. They are a little bit arrogant, but they will not psyche me up.''

Pressed to make a gold medal selection, he said: ``I think Justin Gatlin is the best of the current field.''

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