Greene, Jones emerge as fastest athletes

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Sydney: Maurice Greene can not only justifiably claim the title of the world's fastest man but can also make a strong case to be the greatest sprinter in history after winning the Olympic 100 metres final on Saturday.

The American came into the Games as favourite and lived up to his billing with a blistering 9.87 seconds gold medal performance.

Greene's training partner and great friend Ato Boldon was second in 9.99 with Obadele Thompson of Barbados edging out Briton Dwain Chambers for bronze in 10.04.

But greene was never in danger as he started strongly and powered to the 50-metre mark with his eyes focused only on the track just in front of him. Not until around the 60-metre mark did he allow himself to look towards the finish line and by then he was away and clear with Boldon, out in lane eight,merely a shadow in his peripheral vision.

As he crossed the line he spread his arms and looked to the sky, shouting ''thank you, lord'' before joining Boldon to kneel together for their traditional post-race prayer.

Greene set off on a joyous lap of honour, stopping only to toss one of his stars and stripes shoes into the crowd. The winning time was one hundredth slower than the 9.86 he produced in Berlin three weeks ago, the fastest in the world by anyone this year.

Meanwhile, compatriot Marion Jones took confident steps to the first of her target of a record five gold medals at the Sydney Olympics on Saturday when she won the 100 metres with time and space to spare.

The 24-year-old world champion, wearing shiny silver shoes, took control of the race after 30 metres and crossed the line at least five metres ahead of the rest of the field in 10.75 seconds, the fastest time of the year despite a slightheadwind.

Greek Ekaterini Thanou, who clocked 11.12 for the silver medal, and Jamaican bronze medallist Tanya Lawrence (11.18) were never a threat to Jones, who was at least three strides head when she crossed the line, a huge smile on her face and her arms aloft in celebration.

Jamaica's 40-year-old Merlene Ottey missed out on becoming the oldest female medallist in Olympic athletics history by the thickness of a vest.

Ottey, who had already equalled the record for a female athlete of seven Olympic medals, finished 0.01 seconds behind Lawrence in fourth postion.



(c) Reuters Limited.