World champion Greene wins 100-meter dash

JAKARTA (JP): American world champion Maurice Greene won the men's 100 meters at the Bob Hasan Invitational Meet yesterday at the Senayan Madya Stadium here but failed to break his own world record.

Greene, who was favorite to win the annual event, clocked 10.18 seconds, which was 0.32 seconds slower than his personal best last month at the Track and Field World Championship in Athens, Greece.

Compatriot Vincent Henderson finished second in 10.20 seconds, while Jamaican Michael Green was third with 10.31 seconds.

"It's been a long season of competition and my body was very tired. The most important thing is that I finished the season and I'm not injured," Greene said.

The 23-year-old runner celebrated by throwing his shoes to the spectators, who were keen to get one. Henderson did the same thing.

Henderson, who also came to Jakarta last year, said "I'm not very disappointed with the results because our time difference was only 0.02 seconds".

In the men's 110-meter hurdles, German Florian Swartzhoff upset American favorite Roger Kingdom by clocking 13.31 seconds. Belgian Sevein Pieters was third in 13.70 seconds.

The 35-year-old Kingdom, who won the 1984 and 1988 Olympic gold medals, said "I was disappointed with the results because I think I could have been better. I started this season in February while Florian started in May, so my competition season is longer".

"I like the hot weather here because it takes a little time to warm up. But it'll be a problem for long distance runners," said Kingdom, who jokingly called himself "Mr. Second Place".

Swartzhoff, who beat Kingdom twice this year, said "the result of today's competition was good and I'm in a good shape".

Ukrainian Anzela Balakhanova upset Australian world title holder Emma George in the women's pole vault. Balakhanova won with 4.30 meters, while George cleared just 4.20 meters, well below her best of 4.55 meters.

"It's difficult to win every competition and a bad day always happens sometimes. It's just not my day. I'm not disappointed with the results and I don't think I failed in the competition," said George, who studies Indonesian at Melbourne's Deakin University.

Balakhanova, who started pole vaulting just two years ago, stopped at 4.40 meters because "the wind direction during the competition. It's difficult for me to keep the pole steady". (yan)

Results

Men's 100m: 1. Maurice Green (USA) 10.18 2. Vincent Henderson (USA) 10.20 3. Michael Green (Jam) 10.31

Men's 110m hurdles: 1. Florian Swartzhoff (Ger) 13.31 2. Roger Kingdom (USA) 13.33 3. Sevein Pieters (Bel) 13.70

Men's javelin throw: 1. Gregor Hoegler (Aut) 78.66m 2. Darek Trafas (Pol) 74.56m 3. Vladim Sassimovich (Rus) 72.60m

Men's pole vault: 1. Pat Manson (USA) 5.91m 2. Nick Buckfield (Gbr) 5.31m 3. Oslan Hendiarsin (Ina) 4.90m

Men's 10km walk: 1. Nick A'Hern (Aus) 43:35.54 2. Turiman (Ina) 46:24.88 3. Abdullah Sukri (Ina) 49:58.51

Women's 100m hurdles: 1. Svetlana Dimitrova (Bul) 13.02 2. Kulawansa Shriyani (Sri) 13.24 3. Katie Anderson (Can) 13.44

Women's 200m: 1. S. Jayasinghe (Sri) 22.62 2. Melanie Pasche (Ger) 23.14 3. Elona Reinalde (Aus) 23.59

Women's 10km walk: 1. Olga Kardoltseva (Rus) 46:31.52 2. Tersiana Riwurohi (Ina) 49:18.80 3. Hasiati Lawole (Ina) 51:06.60

Women's javelin throw: 1. Louise McPaul (Aus) 62.92m 2. Tatyana Shikolenko (Rus) 60.22m 3. Ni Ketut Mudiani (Ina) 48.56m

Women's pole vault: 1. Anzela Balakhanova (Ukr) 4.30m 2. Emma George (Aus) 4.20m