Ex-Western High sprinter claims spot on U.S. team

Former Western High School track star Rodney Martin, who narrowly missed an individual berth in the upcoming Summer Olympics, was named to the U.S. team Monday for the squad's pool in the 4x100 relay.

In the Olympics, teams are allowed to bring additional runners to compete in preliminary rounds for relays.

Martin nearly claimed an individual berth, taking fourth in the 200-meter dash at the U.S. Olympic Trials. He took fifth in the 100 at the trials and almost assuredly will see action in the 4x100 relay prelims. Depending on his performance, he could run in the finals, presuming the U.S. team qualifies.

In addition, if any of the three runners who finished ahead of him in the 200 at the trials can't compete in Beijing, Martin could get into that event, as well.

Javelin thrower Breaux Greer also made the U.S. track and field team. The eight-time national champion didn't qualify at the recent trials, finishing 17th.

But USA Track & Field decided to place him on the team, citing a rule that allows for the selection of an injured athlete "as long as another athlete is not displaced from the team."

Greer hurt his shoulder while winning a bronze medal at last year's world championships and hadn't thrown in competition until the trials.

• USA BOXING -- USA Boxing's judicial committee upheld the organization's decision to ban Luis Yanez from the Olympic team, leaving the light flyweight with one more chance to make it to Beijing.

Yanez is expected to appeal his punishment to an independent arbitrator this week, hoping for a decision before his eight teammates leave for China next week.

Yanez was kicked off the roster July 1 for skipping more than three weeks of workouts last month at the team's residency training program.

• BRITISH TEAM -- One of Britain's three 100-meter athletes for Beijing was picked ahead of the outcome of Dwain Chambers' legal bid to overturn a lifetime doping ban.

Chambers won Saturday's national trials, but runner-up Simeon Williamson is the only confirmed sprinter ahead of Thursday's injunction hearing against the British Olympic Association.