U.S. fill-ins qualify first in men's 4x400

By MIKE PRATER

Gannett News Service

ATHENS, Greece - American Otis Harris took a breather Friday night but is expected to run in the final of Saturday night's 4x400 relay inside Olympic Stadium.

The former South Carolina track star from Vicksburg, Miss., sat in the stands and watched his team - with two substitutes - qualify for the finals with a semifinal-best time of 2:59.30. Nigeria had the second best time of 3:01.60.

Jeremy Wariner also watched from the stands as Kelly Willie and Andrew Rock got their brief moment in the Olympic spotlight. U.S. track coach George Williams is expected to sit Willie and Rock Saturday night and let Harris and Wariner run for gold, along with Derrick Brew and Darold Williamson.

Wariner (44.0), Harris (44.16) and Brew (44.42) swept the open 400 on Monday night. Wariner is the odds-on favorite to run the anchor leg, though Williamson picked up that chore in the semifinals.

Rock said he understands the decision not to let him and Willie run because they did not finish in the top four at the U.S. Olympic Trials. If the Americans win a medal, all six runners will receive one.

``Coach Williams has done it the fair way, and he's given us a shot to run the semis,'' Rock said. ``I got to run in the Olympics, and I'll probably get a medal if all goes well. I'm only 22 years old, so I can't be disappointed.''