(A^^*^M l^ae^ Johnson is one for four Olympic or world cham- pions scheduled to compete In the Crystal Palace meet at London August 17.

Johnson, who retained h(s world 400-metre title at the World Championships, will run the 200 and the 1.600-metre relay in his first appearance in Britain in three years.

Also entered are Olympic 100-metre champion Donovan Bailey. Olympic high jump champion Charles Austin and world javelin champion Marius Corbett of South Africa.

The field also is expected to include the top British athletes, including 400-metre runners Iwan Thomas. Mark Richardson and Jamie Baulch. javelin thrower Steve Backley and hurdler Sally Gunnell.

"This is going to be a special meeting." British Athletic Federation spokesman Jayne Pearce said. "After Athens, so many people will have things to prove, and we re going to have so many of the greatest athletes in the world on display. It isn't often that we get a meeting of this quality in Britain."

FANCY FEET

Paul McMullen, one of America's top middle-distance runners, hasn't lost his desire for lawnmowing despite losing two toes on his right foot in an accident in June.

"He still likes mowing the lawn." his wife. Jill, said Wednesday, after she failed to advance past the first round of the 800-metre heats at the World Championships.

To relieve the pain. Mc-

%4pnenT« bflne fitted, wAa rubber- typetramper in Tils shoe." his wife said. "It's like a prosthetic. It's something for his foot to press into, so his toes don't slide around, and to absorb the impact."

Jill said her anxious husband had resumed running, but "he's running flatfooted and awkward, noticeably favouring the foot. "If he waited another month, it would help him down the road," she said.

McMullen and lawnmowers also are becoming synonymous.

"Everyone who comes to interview him makes him mow the lawn," she said. They pose him with a lawnmower. He should get an endorsement for lawnmowers.

"The accident wasn't the fault of the lawnmower. It was.a freak accident.

SURPRISE!

High jumper Antonella Bevilacqua was philosophical about a surprise, out-of-compe-tition drug test she had to take while in lUly this week.

Tm not bothered." Bevilacqua, whose fourth-place finish at the Olympics last summer later was wiped out by a retroactive drug penalty, said Wednes day before boarding a plane In Rome to come to Athena.

"Instead. I think it attests to the esteem the IAAF has for me. since it usually keeps an eye on the athletes it thinks have a chance of reaching the medal podium."

The Italian twice tested positive for the banned stimulant ephedrine in May 1996. and the Internationa] Amateur Athletic Federation tried to ban her before the Atlanta Olympics, which ran from July 19-August 4.