Greene wins at 200m in Martinique

Maurice Greene ran to a 20.31 victory over 200m at the Conseil General de la Martinique - IAAF GPII - meeting, in the Stade “Dillon” in Fort de France, Martinique, Saturday 26 April.

Signifying the World and Olympic 100m champion's star billing at the meeting, Greene’s race was the last track event on the programme at 6.40pm local time. In front of approximately 6000 spectators, Greene, who won the 1999 World 200m gold, strode round the bend to take a 20.31 (wind +1.6m/s) win over comparatively slight opposition that included, France’s European Junior champion Ronald Pognon (2nd, 20.54), and World 110m Hurdles champion Allen Johnson (3rd 20.57). The latter had earlier won his specialist sprint Hurdles event in 13.21(+2.1m/s), in a similarly unchallenged manner.

Immediately proceeding Greene’s saunter was the women’s 200m, which saw USA’s Torri Edwards win in 22.81 (+1.5m/s), completing an encouraging sprint 'triple' having earlier taken both her 100m heat (11.09, +3.4m/s) and final (11.18, -0.5m/s).

Edwards had an impressive indoor season over 60m last winter, which culminated in a personal best 7.17 run in Birmingham last month to take the World Indoor bronze medal. The 26 year old will no doubt be encouraged by her 22.81 in Fort de France, as in the process she beat Christine Amertil of the Bahamas (2nd 23.23), who had been on equally good form this winter, winning the World Indoor 400m silver medal (NR 51.11).

In last night’s women’s 400m, Nigeria’s 27-year-old Olabisi Afocabi who has a personal best of 50.33 (2000), defeated America’s Monique Hennagan, 51.99 to 52.84.

In the men’s 100m, USA’s Marcus Brunson won in 10.28 (2.0m/s), ahead of France’s Fabrice Calligny, second in 10.31, and Portugal’s European double sprint silver medallist Francis Obikwelu, the IAAF World Cup 200m champion, who was third in 10.33.

As well, as Allen Johnson’s win in the men’s sprint hurdles, there were also fine Hurdles wins for his USA compatriots, Eric Thomas in the men’s 400mH, 48.61, and Melissa Morrison (Race A, in 12.96) and Joyce Bates (Race B, in 12.99) in the women’s 100mH (both legal winds).

The men’s Long Jump was taken by reigning World silver medallist and current joint IAAF World Ranking Event leader Savanté Stringfellow, who leapt to 7.99m (-1.2m/s). Unfortunately, the favourite, Brazil’s Maurren Maggi didn’t start in the women’s competition, which was won by USA’s Grace Upshaw with a 6.58m (+4.0m/s) performance.

Olympic silver medallist and 2001 World Indoor champion Lawrence Johnson (no mark) was beaten in the men’s Pole Vault by Toby Stevenson – 5.60m, while the High Jump was secured by Jermaine Mason (JAM) with 2.24m.

IAAF