Olympic champion Greene beaten in Paris Golden League meeting

Nigerian-born Portuguese Francis Obikwelu presented himself a 30th birthday gift with victory, beating Olympic champion Maurice Greene in the men's 100 meters at the Paris Golden League meeting on Friday.

Obikwelu, European silver medalist two years ago at the 100m and 200m, clocked 10.06 seconds while Greene was 0.08 seconds behind.

Greene, whose reaction time was the slowest of the eight men who finished the race, will defend his Olympic title in Athens next month after finishing first in the U.S. national trials.

Obikwelu said it was only two weeks since he recovered from a pulled hamstring, but he showed no ill-effects on Friday, returning to the track to win the 200m in a national record 20.12.

The five athletes still in contention for the one million US dollars jackpot shared by competitors who win each of their designated Golden League events all won at the third of the six elite European meetings.

World champion Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic, unbeaten over the 400m hurdles for three years, drew level with American champion James Carter at the fifth barrier and strode away to win in 47.99 seconds.

Tonique Williams-Darling of the Bahamas clocked the fastest time of the year when she won the women's 400m in 49.15 seconds.

The field event contenders for the jackpot, South African women's high jumper Hestrie Cloete (1.99 meters), Swedish men's triple jumper Christian Olsson (17.41) and Lithuanian men's discus thrower Virgilijus Alekna (70.21), also won.

Source: Xinhua