ATHENS, Greece – Shawn Crawford stood silently amid the Greek chorus of whistles and boos delaying his race. For four minutes, he fought to stay composed while rowdy fans chanted the name of their country and their disgraced sprinting star.

It made little difference to Crawford and his teammates. They finished 1-2-3 in the 200 meters yesterday in a big night for U.S. athletes before a restive crowd that wanted to see defending champion Kostas Kenteris and got an American sweep instead.

Crawford took the lead off the turn and finished in 19.79 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year and a personal best. Bernard Williams tied his personal best of 20.01 seconds for silver. Justin Gatlin, the 100 champion, won bronze in 20.03.

“We’re here at the birthplace of the Olympics, the defending Olympic champion is from Greece and there were certain situations that didn’t allow him to compete,” Crawford said. “I can understand their feelings, I know they’re disappoint ed, I know they’re upset.”

The crowd still cheered at the finish. It was the sixth time the United States has taken all three 200 medals – the last sweep was led by Carl Lewis in 1984.

And it gave the United States a total of 18 track and field medals, just two behind the total from Sydney, with the relays and several other events still to come. Russia is next with nine medals.

Dwight Phillips added to the U.S. haul, leading a 1-2 American finish in the long jump with NCAA champion John Moffitt taking silver. In the first round of the 400-meter relay, Marion Jones ran the second leg as the U.S. team’s 41.67 matched its own best time in the world this year.

Crawford and Williams were doing a victory lap, draped together in an American flag, when Phillips climbed the victory stand to accept his gold medal. The sprinters stopped on the track as “The Star-Spangled Banner” was played. Williams put his right hand over his heart.

Crawford was asked whether he felt cheated because his victory lap was cut short.

“I didn’t worry about that,” he said. “I got a full gold medal.”

Olympic Stadium was packed, largely because Greeks thought they would be watching Kenteris, who withdrew from the Athens Games after missing a drug test.

The start of the 200 was delayed four minutes while spectators whistled in derision and chanted “Kenteris” and “Hellas, Hellas” – the Greek word for Greece. They booed loudest when the Americans were introduced.

Crawford, a flamboyant personality who had showboated mercilessly in earlier heats, was unusually subdued after the finish.

His victory gave controversial coach Trevor Graham a sweep of the men’s short sprints. Crawford and Gatlin are training partners under Graham, who acknowledged on the night of Gatlin’s 100-meter victory that he was the coach who sent a syringe of a mystery steroid to authorities last year – fueling the drug scandal that has swept the sport.

Phillips won the long jump with a leap of 28 feet, 2 1 /4 inches on his first attempt. Moffitt won silver at 27-9 1 /2.Joan Lino Martinez of Spain took the bronze medal.

Four years ago in Sydney, Americans failed to medal in the long jump for the first time since the boycotted 1980 Moscow Games.

“It’s been such a great Olympic Games, just so many positive things happening,” Phillips said.

Felix Sanchez won the Dominican Republic’s first Olympic gold medal, capturing the 400-meter hurdles in more of a coronation than a triumph. Sanchez has not lost in more than three years, winning two world championships and dominating his event more than any other track and field athlete.

Sanchez, born in New York and raised in San Diego, won in 47.63. Danny McFarlane of Jamaica took silver in 48.11 and Naman Keita was third in 48.26. James Carter faded badly to fourth in the final stretch, and U.S. teammate Bennie Brazell was last.