Greene, Carson Are a Match

Maurice Greene is accustomed to traveling the world to compete in elite track meets. So he’s looking forward to traveling only a couple of freeways June 1 for the Home Depot Track and Field Invitational, which will inaugurate the $150-million Home Depot Training Center in Carson.

“I think the profile of track in Southern California is very big,” said Greene, who won gold medals in the 100 and the 400-meter relay at the Sydney Olympics. “I walk around the streets, and all the time people are saying, ‘When are you all going to have a big track meet here?’

“This gives people an opportunity to watch top U.S. athletes. I would hope it would be the foundation for having many big meets here.”

The event, part of USA Track and Field’s Golden Spike tour, will feature 12 elite events and a prize purse of $103,500. Prizes range from $500 to $5,000 for six “premier” events and $500 to $3,000 for “classic” events. Tickets are priced at $40, $23 and $17 and will go on sale today through Ticketmaster.

The fields for most events haven’t yet been filled. However, Greene -- who lost his 100-meter world record to Tim Montgomery last September -- headlines a men’s 100 field that meet director Rich Perelman promises will be impressive.

“There won’t be a better field in the world this year, except maybe the finals of the U.S. championships,” Perelman said Wednesday. “Not even the World Championships....

“Interest in this meet has surprised even us. We’ve been bombarded with phone calls from agents and athletes, so much so that we’ve lined up alternates.”

Also confirmed are Allen Johnson in the 110-meter hurdles and Sydney women’s pole vault gold medalist Stacy Dragila.

Marion Jones won’t compete because she’s pregnant. Montgomery, Jones’ partner and father of her baby, has not responded to inquiries about his interest in competing, Perelman said.

The scheduled events are the men’s and women’s 100, men’s and women’s 400, men’s and women’s 1,500, men’s 110-meter hurdles, women’s 100-meter hurdles, men’s shotput and long jump, and women’s pole vault and discus.

Greene, who had a difficult outdoor season last year because of injuries and the deaths of two close relatives, said he was fit and raring to go.

“I always like to run against the best,” said Greene, who will run later this month at the Mt. San Antonio College Relays in Walnut. “This is going to be a lot of fun. I’m exactly where I want to be, form-wise. The times will come as the year goes on. I believe I’ll run faster than I’ve ever run before. It’s just a matter of putting it together for a race.”