Marion Jones sprints her way to Olympic gold

SYDNEY, SEPT. 23. American sprint sensation, Marion Jones, won her first-ever Olympic gold with a shattering display here in the women's 100 m on a chilly Saturday evening even as the men's 100 m world record holder, Maurice Greene, lived up to his promise.

World champion Jones, 24, clocked 10.75 seconds to head off the challenge from Greece's silver medallist, Ekaterini Thanou and Jamaican bronze winner, Tanya Lawrence.

Going for a record-busting five track and field titles here, Jones broke into a huge smile as she swept across the line to the roars of the 100,000 strong crowd packed into Stadium Australia.

Seconds later her smile turned to tears of joy as she hugged friends in the crowd. It was a brilliant Olympic debut for the former basketball star who has not lost a 100 m race since 1997 and never looked like losing her record here as she ran her fastest 100 m of the year.

Greene, who came home in 9.87 seconds had to overcome a sluggish start, but his strength told over the final 20 mts and neither Ato Boldon of Trinidad nor Obadele Thompson of Barbados was close enough to threaten. Boldon clocked 9.99 and Thompson 10.04.

Greene's victory makes him only the third sprinter to hold the Olympic title, the World Championship and the world record at the same time-only Carl Lewis and Donovan Bailey had previously managed the triple.

Greene's success spelt heartache for Boldon who is still trying to get out of the shadow of his training partner.The Commonwealth Games champion took bronze in Atlanta but remained convinced that he deserved more. But, despite a blistering performance in the first round of the heats, he again failed to deliver the killer- blow when it mattered and had to settle for silver. The two sprinters hugged seconds after the race before Greene broke away, tore off his shoes, and threw them into the huge crowd packed into the stadium.

- AFP

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