Brash Greene Is the Envy of Himself After Matching World Record in 50

The start was the end for everyone else.

Maurice Greene exploded out of the blocks and accelerated through the Sports Arena and 5.56 seconds later he had another world record on his increasingly impressive resume.

Greene’s bravura performance in the men’s 50-meter run was the highlight at the L.A. Indoor Invitational track and field meet before an announced crowd of 6,005 on Saturday. Greene established a meet record, an American record and tied the world record of Canadian Donovan Bailey. Bailey established the mark on Feb. 9, 1996, in Reno.

But there’s a new world order, says Greene.

Greene and Bailey.

Not Bailey and Greene.

“Donovan Bailey has the same time as I do,” Greene said of his nemesis.

Greene’s coach, John Smith, reacted to the irony of the situation. Sharing a world record is about the only thing Greene will share with Bailey.

“Uh, huh . . . just clearing my throat,” Smith said.

Finishing second was Greene’s training partner and buddy, Jon Drummond (5.63). Tim Harden was third (5.67). Greene has been working on his reaction time, sharpening his focus the last few days.

“My start was wonderful,” Greene said. “What can I say? There’s not much you can say. I knew I hit the gun and I knew nobody was catching me. . . . Today I was thinking about reacting.”

Even Smith, the taskmaster, was nearly satisfied.

“I’m very happy right now,” Smith said. “What Maurice has strived for, he’s made a commitment to be the best--5.56, there’s room for improvement.”

For a split second, it appeared as though Greene had left Bailey behind too.

The video replay screen at the Sports Arena momentarily flashed: 5.55. But Greene, who was in the tunnel underneath the stands, never spotted the mistaken time. He was exuberant, tossing his T-shirts into the stands to the fans.

Later, the 24-year-old Greene was still giddy, as he could be heard celebrating before he entered the interview room, where Inger Miller--who won the women’s 50 in 6.15 seconds--was talking with the media.

World records seem to be his specialty in the month of February. A little more than a year ago, Greene set the world record of 6.39 in the 60 meters at a meet in Madrid. He is flying to Spain today and will race there on Tuesday.

“I owe it to them to run over there,” he said.

So, who else will be in Madrid?

“I am,” Greene said.

Enough said after Saturday’s performance.

A little more than an hour after Greene’s world record came another significant moment--the passing of the 800 torch, perhaps.

Johnny Gray has practically ruled the 800 meters at this competition, winning it five times here, including the last three meets. But Gray, who will be 39 in June, lost to 21-year-old Jess Strutzel of UCLA. Strutzel managed to hold off Gray in a finish that was so close, Gray initially thought he won.

Strutzel, who lost to Gray last month in San Diego, won in 1:49.37. Gray, who finished in 1:49.39, learned he lost when he heard the public address announcement but later still felt he won the race.

“I’m for him all the way,” Gray said. “But, in all fun, he’ll never beat me again. He won today. But he didn’t beat Johnny Gray.”

Strutzel, a 1996 graduate of Huntington Beach High, said he felt like he was “on top of the world,” after defeating Gray. Last week, he talked about his early track days, joking that he thought 400 meters was too long a race.

“I have the body of a miler and the mind of a quarter-miler, so here I am,” Strutzel said.

Facing Gray was more than enough motivation.

“He’s a great athlete and it’s a blessing to have him around,” Strutzel said.

Other winners included Reggie Torian in the men’s 50-meter hurdles (6.43), Derrick Adkins (56.75) in the men’s 500 yards, Bernard Lagat in the men’s mile (4:01.03), Jeff Hartwig in the pole vault (19-0 3/4), Regina Jacobs in the 800 meters (2:07.60) and Melissa Morrison in the women’s 50-meter hurdles (6.81), a meet record.