Greene, Jones Look the Part of Favorites

In a successful comeback from injury, world record-holder Maurice Greene reasserted himself as Olympic favorite Friday, winning the men’s 100 meters at the prestigious Weltklasse Golden League meet.

Marion Jones, aiming for a record five gold medals at Sydney, maintained her unbeaten record this year in the women’s 100, but received a scare from Inger Miller.

Jones also won the long jump competition, leaping 22 feet, 9 inches, to defeat world champion Niurka Montalvo, European champion Heike Dreschsler, and Italy’s Fiona May, who owns the year’s best jump.

“I’m very satisfied because the field is probably the same one that will be in Sydney,” Jones said.

In another long jump development that took place far from Zurich, Jones’ chances to win the event in the Olympics were further enhanced when Cuban officials refused to allow Montalvo to compete for Spain. She has lived in Spain for almost three years.

Montalvo, who needed permission from her native Cuba because she represented the country four years ago in Atlanta, won at the World Championships last summer in Seville. Jones was third.

Spanish sports officials appealed Friday to Juan Antonio Samaranch, president of the International Olympic Committee.

Greene, who pulled up because of a hamstring cramp at the U.S. trials last month during his much-hyped 200 showdown against Michael Johnson, was timed at 9.94 seconds, dominating a tough field that included eight of the top-10 sprinters this season.

“As you see, I am OK and healthy,” said Greene, who ran his 30th race under 10 seconds.

Johnson, who also pulled up in the 200 race in the U.S. trials because of a hamstring cramp, plans to return to competition Aug. 25 in Brussels.

Jones, who posted the fastest time of the season with 10.78 at London last weekend, was timed at 10.95, beating Miller by 0.01 of a second.

Jamaica’s Merlene Ottey, competing in her first major international meet since being cleared of drug charges last month, showed the hiatus had not overly affected her form, finishing third at 11.06.

Jones had looked unbeatable until now. Miller’s close second changed that. Miller has not beaten Jones since they were in high school, Miller as a senior at Pasadena Muir and Jones as a freshman at Oxnard’s Rio Mesa.

In other races Friday, Morocco’s Hicham El Guerrouj and Romanian Gabriela Szabo posted the fastest times of the season in the 1,500 and women’s 3,000, respectively.

El Guerrouj, who had set out to break the 1,500 world record after failing to do so in the mile at London last Saturday, won in 3:27.21. Szabo took the 3,000 at 8:26.35.