Francis Obikwelu beats Maurice Greene - 100m - in Paris (© Getty Images)
The unpredictable men’s sprint picture less than a month before Athens became hazier still after Francis Obikwelu’s dominating double dash victory at tonight's TDK Golden League, Meeting Gaz de France Paris Saint-Denis.
In the 100, the 25-year-old Portuguese overcame a sluggish first half to burst past heavily-favoured Maurice Greene in the closing stages en route to a commanding 10.06 win, well ahead of Greene’s 10.14. In the half lap, it wasn’t much of a contest, as the 2002 double European silver medallist stormed home in 20.12, well ahead of runner-up J.J. Johnson (20.28).
So how did he feel after scoring a dominating upset sprint double?
“Fantastic. I’m extremely happy,” Obikwelu said, particularly after his mid-season was slowed by injury at last month’s European Cup meet in Istanbul. “I had a little hamstring problem. But we were able to work on it in training, so today I had no problems. So I think we’re definitely ready for the Olympics.”
Was he expecting a 20.12 effort?
“No,” he readily admitted. “Because I was so tired after the 100. I didn’t think I was going to run that fast in the 200. [After the 100] I was telling my coach on the phone, that I can’t make it, that I can’t run. That I have to scratch. And he just told me, ‘Go, you can do it.’ So he boosted my morale and I went out and did it.”
Did he feel Greene beside him as he was finishing his surge?
“No," he said. "After 60 metres I didn’t feel anybody. I just kept running my race. I just kept relaxed and raced through the line."
Was a win over defending Olympic Champion Maurice Greene, a heavy favourite here in Paris, an important step towards Athens?
After a pause, he replied, “No, because I knew I was ready.” But he admitted that there were some pre-race jitters. “But I was scared before the race. Because he’s a big guy. I respect him. He’s run one of the fastest times ever in the world. So I was a little intimidated. Running 9.91 is no joke. But I was still focused after 60 metres. I didn’t panic so even if they left me in the blocks, I didn’t panic. I just ran my race.”
Obikwelu, who ran personal bests of 9.97 and 19.84, while still competing for his native Nigeria, confirmed that his plan from the beginning of the season was to double in Athens, and refuses to place more importance on one or the other.
“They’re equal to me,” he said, and insists his chances of Olympic success can come in either event.
“The sprints are open. It’s open for everybody. It doesn’t matter what you’re running now or last month. You can run 19.88 or 9.79 today. But that day is that day."
"It’s going to be difficult with Shawn Crawford and Justin Gatlin. It’ll be tough because I know I’ll be tired after the 100. But what can we do? I have to do it for my country. So that’s what I’m there for. I have to suffer for them. That’s important.”
He plans to race only once more before Athens: either in Tuesday’s DN Galan meeting in Stockholm, or in Zurich’s Weltklasse on August 6.
Obikwelu is current World ranked 11 (100m) and =22 (200m)
Muna Lee - women's 200m winner
Years from now, Muna Lee (USA) will consider the 2004 Paris Golden League meeting a pivotal one in her career. It was afterall, the 22-year-old’s first appearance in an international spotlight, and the first time as well competing in front of more than 63,000 spectators.
Her night, she readily admits with a hearty laugh, was off to a slow start, finishing a distant seventh in the 100 metres. With a .276 reaction time, it was no understatement.
“The first race, the 100, that was a big shock,” she said. “It was a quick start. I felt like I was about five metres behind out of the blocks. I wasn’t expecting them to start so fast,” she added, again smiling.
But her international debut took a positive turn in the 200, where she dominated the race en route to a near-PB 22.49. Debbie Ferguson was a distant second in 22.74.
“I’m more relaxed in the 200 now,” said Lee, who starred for Louisiana State University before finishing second at the U.S. Olympic Trials. “I finally found my race.”
“I felt a little too fast off the curve, but everything else was good. I probably could have given more. I had a really good rhythm going.”
And the worst part about her first Golden League meeting?
“I can’t call anyone at home and tell them about because I don’t have any calling cards!”
Lee is current World ranked =33 (100m) and =16 (200m)
IAAF
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Reporting for the IAAF in Paris -
Bob Ramsak and Chris Turner
