Jones, Freeman take it easy in 200m heats

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Sydney: Marion Jones eased through the opening heats of the 200 metres on Wednesday as she began the toughest day of her attempt to win five Olympic golds.

The newly crowned 100 metres champion won the opening heat in 22.75 seconds on a wet track.

"I said all along I think today is going to be the most difficult day for me, having two rounds of the 200 metres and then having to jump this evening after it's all done," she said.

"So I tried to conserve a bit of energy in the first round and I felt good."Jones, whose husband C J Hunter, the world shot put champion, is facing a ban after it was revealed on Monday that he had tested positive for drugs, added, "Now I'll just go back, get off my feet for a couple of hours and get ready to run, hopefully, another nice easy 200 -- unless somebody gets in my heat who wants to run."

The 200, meanwhile, is something of a bonus for new 400 metres champion Cathy Freeman.

The Australian, who only decided to enter the event just before the Games, looked a little sluggish in qualifying third from her heat in 23.11.

However, Freeman, who was emotionally exausted after her 400 success on Monday, was unconcerned.

"I will feel better as the rounds progress. If there was one I could afford to relax in it was that one," she said.

Also relaxing was Hana Ali Saleh of Yemen, who finished last in Freeman's heat in 30.36 seconds.



(c) Reuters Limited.