Greene back on form with year's best time
Simon Evans
Olympic and world champion Maurice Greene confirmed his return to form, winning the 100 metres in the Rome Golden League meeting on Friday with a year's best time of 9.89 seconds.
Greene was just one-tenth of a second outside his world record of 9.79, which he set in Athens in 1999.
Fellow American Marion Jones completed a good night for the U.S, repeating her season's best 10.89 seconds as she won in the womens 100 metres ahead of Jamaica's Tanya Lawrence -- her third straight win in the Golden League.
In the mile, Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj won with a year's best time of three minutes 48.28, but he was short of his world record time, which he set three years ago.
Greene's dominance in 100 metres had been brought into question earlier this season after he had been beaten twice in June by Britain's Dwain Chambers.
But after bouncing back by winning in Paris a week ago, Greene looked in good shape on the new track at the Olympic stadium.
"I really expressed myself at the start. I feel that if I have a good start then I can move into the race," Greene said afterwards. "That's what happened tonight. I got a great start and was able to accelerate well."
Greene, who has been suffering from a head cold, said he was pleased with the warmer weather in Rome after having to battle through rain in Paris last week.
"I was happy to see the sunshine and the hot weather today. All the cold weather has got me a little sick. I came out here and performed well, so I'm happy.
"I have said that as the season goes on I will get better and better.
"The important thing is to be motivated and to be the best. All the conditions out there were perfect tonight. That's my best race of the season."
Greene's new rival Chambers was not competing in the Rome meeting as he prepares for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
Tim Montgomery came in second in 9.94 and Bernard Williams completed an American podium sweep running a season personal best of 10.00 seconds.
TOUGH START
Jones struggled out of the blocks but recovered to maintain her unbeaten Golden League record and she believes she is still capable of more.
"I was pleased with the second half of the race. I messed up the start as you could see but I think a 10.89 at this stage and after that start shows that I am in 10.7 condition," she said.
Romanian Olympic and world champion Gabriela Szabo was upset in the womens' 5,000 metres, finishing third with a time of 14:55.48 after winning both the other Golden League races of the season.
Kenyan Edith Masai won in 14.53.77, with Ethiopia's Berhane Adere coming in second.
"I don't know what happened. I didn't have the best feelings about today. I saw a black cat on the road today and I knew I felt I wouldn't produce my best. I know it is superstition but it has happened to me in the past," said Szabo.
American Gail Devers maintained her 100 percent Golden League record with a third successive victory in the 100 metres hurdles with a time of 12.51 seconds.
Jamaican Michael Blackwood won the men's 400 metres in 44.99 seconds.
