Greene Is Without Challenge

Maurice Greene didn’t need Michael Johnson running alongside to turn in a fast time in the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday. Marion Jones didn’t need a reminder to run fast, either.

Greene and Johnson had been scheduled to meet in the 200-meter final today, but Johnson withdrew Friday because of an injured quadriceps muscle.

That left Greene, the world record-holder in the 100, as the sole star of the men’s 200.

He didn’t disappoint, producing the fastest time of the six preliminary heats, 20.26 seconds, despite easing up with about 40 meters remaining. He won his semifinal heat in a wind-aided 20.11, despite looking around with 15 meters left.

Greene discounted Johnson’s absence.

“I can’t worry about Michael Johnson,” he said. “If I was hurt, I wouldn’t have run either.”

Johnson, world record-holder in the 200, denied avoiding a confrontation with Greene.

“I feel that at some point over the next couple of weeks I’ll have the opportunity to run against Maurice and Maurice will have the opportunity to run against me,” Johnson said before returning home.

Rohsaan Griffin, the 1999 indoor champion, won the other semifinal in a wind-aided 19.96.

Jones, smarting from Friday night’s stunning upset loss in the long jump, sped to victory in her semifinal heat in the women’s 200 in a wind-aided 22.31, the faster of the two heats.

The women’s final is today.

Twelve finals were held Saturday--six each for men and women.

The most scintillating performance was Regina Jacobs’ victory in the women’s 1,500 in a meet-record 4:02.41, the fastest in the world this year.

The men’s 1,500 was a tense battle won by Steve Holman, who held off 1997 winner and two-time NCAA champion Seneca Lassiter--3:39.21 to 3:39.23.

The other men’s champions were defending champion Jerome Young in the 400 at 44.24, second-fastest in the world this year; Angelo Taylor in the 400 hurdles in 48.49; Kevin Dilworth in the long jump with a wind-aided 26 feet, 7 3/4 inches; Anthony Washington in the discus at 222-11; and American record-holder Tom Pukstys in the javelin at 256-0.

The other women’s champions were Maicel Malone-Wallace in the 400 in 51.29; Sandra Glover in the 400 hurdles in 55.95; Libbie Hickman in the 10,000 in 31:41.33; Stacy Dragila in the pole vault at 14-7 1/4; and Michelle Rohl in the 20-kilometer walk in 1:33:17.