WALNUT, California, 20 April 2004 — Olympic champion Maurice Greene beat world record holder Tim Montgomery in the 100 meters at the Mount San Antonio College Relays as the two sprint giants clashed on Sunday for the first time in almost two years.

Three-time world champion Greene won easily in 10.02sec as Montgomery struggled with his start and a headwind, finishing third in 10.27. American Dwight Phillips placed second in 10.26.

“I don’t back down from anyone,” Greene said. “I am up for all challenges. This is a good beginning for me. I am on track now.”

Greene exploded out of the blocks and led from start to finish while running into a headwind of 1.6 meters per second.

He said his time would have been faster had he not shot a glance Montgomery’s way then raised both arms as he crossed the finish line.

Greene downplayed the renewal of his rivalry with Montgomery just months before the Athens Summer Olympics.

Montgomery was initially scheduled to run in another 100m race on Sunday, but switched to Greene’s race the night before.

Montgomery broke Greene’s world record in 100m with a time of 9.78 seconds in Paris in 2002.

Greene hadn’t raced Montgomery since the 100m at the US track and field championships in 2002.

England’s Chris Rawlinson captured the men’s 400 meters hurdles with a time of 48.93 seconds. Last year’s world silver medalist Joey Woody, of the US, was second in 49.11.

Former 200m world champion Inger Miller beat 18-year-old Allyson Felix to win the women’s 100 meters in 11.04.

Felix flashed across the line in 11.14 while Angela Daigle placed third in 11.24.

Four-time world champion Allen Johnson won the men’s 110 meters hurdles with a time of 13.25, while Brenda Taylor, also of the US, won the women’s 400 meters hurdles in 55.18 seconds.

American Savante Stringfellow captured the men’s long jump with a leap of 8.31 metres. American Bashir Ramzy finished second in 7.87m.

Marion Jones Suffers Rare

Defeat in 200m

Reigning Olympic champ Marion Jones launched her 2004 outdoor season on Sunday by suffering a rare defeat in the women’s 200m at the Mount San Antonio College Relays.

Fellow American Connie Moore stunned Jones with a winning time of 22.71sec. Jones finished a disappointing fourth in 23.02.

“I usually come here to run the 400 meters, but this year I opted to work on my speed,” Jones said.

“Taking a year off to have a baby takes its toll on you, but I am slowly getting back into it.”

Jones also finished behind runner-up Crystal Cox (22.91) and Tonette Dyer (22.99).

The loss ended a remarkable string of 200m victories for Jones in races she has finished. Jones did not complete the 200m at the 1999 Worlds because of an injury.

Jones plans to compete at the Penn Relays next week and then in Jamaica on May 7. She is also looking forward to the US Olympic trials in July.