News15 Jul 2004


Greene lines-up for London’s IAAF Super Grand Prix

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Maurice Greene - 9.91 at US Trials (© Getty Images)

Olympic sprint champion Maurice Greene will make his first British outing for two years at the Norwich Union London Grand Prix later this month.

Greene, fresh from a stunning 9.91 win at last weekend’s US trials, will face Brits Jason Gardener, Mark Lewis-Francis, Darren Campbell and Nick Smith, as well as World champion Kim Collins (SKN) over 100m at Crystal Palace for the IAAF Super Grand Prix on July 30.

Greene last raced at Crystal Palace in 2002, and was a winner on the south London track in 1999 and 2001, on both occasions recording sub-ten second times.

Greene said: "It's great to be coming back to Britain again having not been here for two years now. And even then I did not show the best of my abilities.

“But I think proved at the weekend that I will take some beating again this year. I worked so hard to win the Olympic crown and I am not going to give it up without a fight.

“Crystal Palace is going to be a lot of fun - all the main contenders for the Olympic medals will be there and we will all be desperate to put a marker down for Athens."

In his current form Greene is arguably now favourite to retain his Olympic 100m title. His 9.91 time at the trials was the fastest in the event’s history and relegated world indoor champion Justin Gatlin and 2004’s fastest man Shawn Crawford to second and third positions.

Gatlin, Capel and Patton

Gatlin will be another starter at Crystal Palace in a field that also includes John Capel and Darvis Patton – the first two finishers from last year’s world 200m final – and Jamaican Asafa Powell, the second fastest man in the world this year.

The 100m will be perhaps the highlight of the Palace meeting, which falls just over three weeks before the Olympic sprint final.

In total, 16 of the world’s top sprinters will race in two-semi finals, the top eight progressing to a final that could well be something of a dress rehearsal for Athens.

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