By DAVID DROSCHAK -- Associated Press
 RALEIGH, N.C. -- Missing the Olympics in your hometown is something few would forget. Antonio Pettigrew never will.

 Poised to make the U.S. team in the 400 meters at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, the 1991 world champion, finished fifth in his semifinal heat at the trials, failing to even make the 1,600-meter relay team.

 Pettigrew was crushed.

 "When I didn't make the team I was down," Pettigrew said as he prepared for Saturday's Pontiac Grand Prix Invitational at North Carolina State. "I found out who the people were who stood behind me when I wasn't running well. I found out who knew that Antonio just had a bad day.

 "But I went on from that experience. I said, 'Antonio Pettigrew has to start doing things for Antonio Pettigrew. He can't worry about anyone else.' "

 That meant eating better, training harder and becoming more disciplined. At 32, Pettigrew knows it's likely his final shot at the Olympics.

 "It made me change my life," he said. "I changed everything in my life to prepare for 2000. Now, that 2000 is here, I'm ready for it. If I don't make the team this time, it's nobody's fault but mine. I have done everything that I could have and should have to make the team."

 The meet is his first big step in the next five weeks prior to the trials July 14-23 at Sacramento, Calif. Pettigrew also will run in next week's Grand Prix meet in Oregon, and in meets in Greece and Rome prior to the trials.

 Pettigrew's position on the team is not a given. His event is now dominated by younger, talented runners, and world record-holder Michael Johnson.

 However, Pettigrew is confident. He rebounded from his disappointment four years ago to help set the world record in the 1,600 relay at the '98 Goodwill Games, running a 43.2-second leg -- faster than even Johnson. His 43.1 time in the relay during the 1997 World Championships was the second-fastest ever.

 Still, Pettigrew has been ranked either fourth, fifth or sixth in the 400 the past three years. That's despite running his personal best of 44.21 last season.

 "It's time to put all the talking aside," he said. "One thing about me is I don't like people to disrespect me. For all I've done in this sport, I think that (ranking) was a slap in the face. So, I have to prove to them and prove to the world that I am better than fourth to make this team. I deserve to be able to run in the games and have my own lane in the 400, then come back on the relay."

 Pettigrew estimates he's run between 300 and 400 400-meter races in his career. He says experience can give him an edge sometimes.

 Running an important meet in Raleigh also is a motivating force, Pettigrew said.

 "I'm at home. You never want to lose at home," he said. "I've got a lot of backing here. I am going to be pumped up. When the gun goes off, I plan to run fast and under control. I want to be to the point where I can give something back to the crowd and the city of Raleigh."

 Meanwhile, most will come out Saturday to see star Marion Jones in the long jump. The former women's basketball star at North Carolina is trying to make history by winning five gold medals at the Sydney Games.

 Jones has jumped only once this year and the result was not good -- 20 feet, 7 inches, in Japan -- more than three feet off her personal best.

 "Anytime I decide to jump, the pressure is going to be there because I have had problems in the past," Jones said. "But I'm looking forward to jumping this weekend."

 Jones has simplified her style, concentrating more on her speed on the runway rather than a powerful lift.

 "Everyone knows my strength in the jump is my speed and I totally negated that," Jones said.