They Run in New York to Run in Tokyo

Selection of the U.S. team for track and field’s World Championships, the sport’s most important meet outside the Summer Olympics, begins today with decathlon and heptathlon competition at the USA/Mobil Outdoor Championships.

The first three finishers in each event at Downing Stadium on Randalls Island will earn berths on the national team for the World Championships Aug. 24-Sept. 2 in Tokyo.

Among the men’s match-ups expected to attract the most attention before the meet ends Saturday:

--Carl Lewis, Leroy Burrell and Dennis Mitchell in the 100 meters.

--Burrell and Michael Johnson in the 200.

--Steve Lewis, Danny Everett and Butch Reynolds in the 400.

--Carl Lewis, Mike Powell and Larry Myricks in the long jump.

--Dave Johnson and Dan O’Brien in the decathlon.

For the women:

--Michelle Finn, Carlette Guidry and Evelyn Ashford in the 100.

--Mary Slaney, PattiSue Plumer and Suzy Favor in the 1,500.

--Lynn Jennings and Francie Larrieu-Smith in the 10,000.

Also expect complaints about the weather--it was 92 degrees and humid Tuesday--and the stadium, which hasn’t been used for a major meet since 1965. Runners say the track is in good condition, but runways for the long jump and pole vault are not getting rave reviews.

Missing from the meet is Roger Kingdom, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 110-meter high hurdles who is injured.

But an added starter is Reynolds, the world record-holder in the 400 meters who was suspended for two years by the International Amateur Athletic Federation for failing a test for anabolic steroids. He was reinstated Monday by an independent arbitrator after a U.S. Olympic Committee hearing.