OSLO. July 6: Frankie Fredericks of Namibia handed American Michael Johnson his first defeat in

any race for two years when he controversially won their 200 metres showdown at the Bislett Games on Friday, report* Reuter.

Fredericks, who is likely to battle with Johnson for the Olympic gold in Atlanta later thi*wnth. appeared fogpLl* flying start on hi* way to winning in 19.82 seconds — his fastest ever time.

Johnson, the world champion. who set a world record of 19.66 on June 23. had to be content with second place In 19.85.

Johnson had won 21 sue cessive 200 metres race* since his last defeat in Lausanne on July 6. 1994 — when he finished fourth behind Fredericks — and he had not been beaten at either 200 or 400 metres since then.

But TV replay* seemed to suggest that Frederick* went too early

He had build auch a *ub stantial lead by the end of the bend that not even Johnson could close it. sithough he came back strongly over the final few metre*.

Even if he did get away to a false or flying start. Fredericks performance confirmed he is in the form of hi* life following his 9 86 run in the 100 metres in Lausanne on Wednesday when he was just 0.01 seconds outside the world record.

While Johnson has looked favourite for a unique 200 400 gold double in Atlanta Freder icks could well win the 100 and challenge Johnson all the way in the 200 it the decides to run both sprints

Later, both athletes main tained a diplomatic stance about the start

Fredericks said: 'I just wanted to make sure 1 got a good start and that * what happened 1 was concentrating hard. I was relaxed and held Michael off

Johnson said: All I know is that I got a bad start and that decided it."

In all Johnson had run 38

races over his two specialist distances without defeat until Friday

As expected the race was the highlight of the meeting held on a cold, windy evening with the crowd and athletes periodically drenched by the showers.

While Fredericks edged home in the 200. American Dennis Mitchell also had a narrow victory in the 100.

Mitchell, who won the US Olympic trial* in». 92 Iasi month but finished last in a high-quality field in Lausanne on Wednesday clocked 10.10 running into a headwind to jusi beat compatriot Tim Harden, second in 10.11.

Jamaican Merlene Ottey, the world 200 champion, got the better of her old rival Gwen Torrence, the Olympic 200 champion in the women s 100 metres, with Ottey win ning in 10 95 and Torrence finishing third in 11.06.

American newcomer Inger Miller, likely to be in the sprint relay squad In Atlanta, was second in 10 98

Despite tne poor conai tion*. five event* produced best performance* in the world this year with an excel lent run by Portugal'• world 10.000 metres champion Fernanda Ribeiro in the 5.000 metres which she won in the third fastest time ever run

Ribeiro and Romania s Gabriela Szabo were engaged in a thrilling duel over the last lap with Ritwiro overtaking Sz

abo 50 metres from the line to win in 14 minutes 41.07 seconds. Szabo clocked 14:41.12. the fourth fastest ever.

Multi-world record holder Algerian Noureddine Morceli won Bislett's famous dream mile, back on the agenda after being cancelled last year but upstaged by the sprints, in three minutes 48.15 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year.

He was paced by his brother AU awl, fellow Algerian Ah.. delvirn Benzal and finished well clear of Olympic 1.500 metres champion Fermin Cache of Spain, who was second in 3:49.56.

Wilson Kiketer. the former Kenyan who now runs for Denmark, improved on his own 1996 800 world best of 1:43 13 with a dynamic finish to win in 1:42.76.

There was also an impres •Ive performance from Ire land a 5.000 metres world champion Sonia O'Sullivan who won the 1.500 in a season s best time of 3:59.91. edging out Britain a Kelly Holmea (4 01 13) who la likely to decide after running the 1,500 In Stockholm and In London next week whether to double up in Atlanta

Meanwhile. Margaret Crowley underlined her credentials. beating the Australian record by six seconds and finishing third In 4:01 34 ahead of former world 800 metres champion Marla Mulola of Mozambique

Paul Bltok of Kenya was also involved In a tough battle for supremacy in the 3,000 with new Moroccan hopeful Salah Hiasou

Both men ran faster than anyone else this year to finish first and second In 7:29.55 and 7.30 46 respectively

Only a strong tailwind denied Ludmila Engquist a world s best legal time of 12.48 seconds in the women * '“^^rmer Lyudmil. Narozhilenko of the Soviet Union, a Swedish citizen *ince June 20 looked in blistering form and could repeat her 1991 world championship winning performance for her new country at Atlanta.