Report29 May 1999


Greene does the double again at windy Prefontaine

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Maurice Greene after winning the 100m at the 1997 IAAF World Championships (© Getty Images)

Maurice Greene clocked a wind-aided 9.84 in the 100m here Sunday then followed up with an impressive victory in the 200m at the Prefontaine Classic IAAF Grand Prix athletics meeting.

"I have to be happy," said the ebullient Greene, who completed a 100m-200m double for the second year in a row. "I think this track loves me."

That should stand him in good stead when he returns next month for the US national championships, the qualifying meet for the World Championships in August at Seville, Spain.

This early in the season, the reigning 100m world champion said, he was thinking more about preserving himself for the trials and world championships than matching Donovan Bailey's world record time.

"I wanted an easy race," he said of the 100m. "That was a nice easy race for me.

"The 200, that was a little challenging because I was winded from the 100," Greene added. "But I'm in good enough shape that I can run back to back."

Greene said his double here last year, when he clocked a wind-aided 9.79, was a little more satisfying because the field included training partner and sprint rival Ato Boldon. But he wasn't discouraged that the 3.5 m/sec following wind meant his time won't count as a world record-matcher.

"I'm not the wind god," he said. "I just concentrate on my race."

Bernard Williams was second in the 100 in 10.11, and Tim Harden was third in 10.12.

Greene overtook Japan's Koji Ito to win the 200m in a wind-aided 20.06, with Ito second in 20.34 and American Tyree Washington third in 20.40.

Marion Jones won the women's 200m in the fastest time in the world this year, 21.81, with a legal wind of +1.6 m/sec.

World and Olympic champion Michael Johnson won the 400m in 44.51. He said the gusty wind was more of a problem in the full-lap race, so he wasn't expecting a better time. "I'm pleased with it," Johnson said succinctly.

Britain's Mark Richardson was second in 45.26 with Brazilian Sanderlei Perrella third in 45.39.

Greene and Jones both said there was plenty of room for improvement before Seville.

"I'm about 75 percent," Greene said. "This is only my second 100 this year and my first 200. I'm in pretty good shape, but I have some things I can improve on."

"It's my first 200 of the season," Jones said. "So I'm very satisfied. The start was not so good, the curve was really good and the final straight was average. I need to put it all together."

US youngster Larry Wade won the 110m hurdles in a wind-aided 13.12, the fastest time in the world this year.

Wade finally improved on the 13.22 he had clocked in three races already this season, leaning at the line to edge Reggie Torian, who was second in 13.17. Mark Crear was third in 13.28, while world and Olympic champion Allen Johnson was fourth in 13.39.

AFP for the IAAF

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