Greene Is Fast Enough

Maurice Greene won the 100 meters at the Japan Grand Prix on Saturday but didn’t get the time he wanted.

The former world-record holder and 2000 Olympic champion finished in 10:04 seconds to lead a 1-2-3 U.S. sweep.

“I’m disappointed,” said Greene, who holds the meet record of 9.91. “I should have run faster. We’ve been here since Tuesday and maybe I left it on the track in practice.... I didn’t get the explosive start I needed.”

J.J. Johnson was second in 10.11 and Mickey Grimes was third in 10.12.

The United States also took the top three places in the women’s 100. Torri Edwards finished in 11.06, followed by Chryste Gaines (11.14) and Angela Daigle (11.27).

Greene pulled out of the U.S. indoor championships in February because of a strained right hamstring.

At the worlds last year, he was going for a fourth straight title in the 100, but he pulled up in his semifinal heat with a quadriceps injury and had to go home.

“I’m back,” Greene said. “I’ll make believers out of them. If they don’t believe in me now they soon will.... I wouldn’t be running now if I didn’t think I could win gold in the Olympics.”

Earlier, China’s Liu Xiang, who won the bronze medal at the world championships, upset four-time world champion Allen Johnson of the United States to win the men’s 110 hurdles with a meet-record time of 13.06.

“My condition wasn’t that good,” Liu said. “My foot was a bit sore but to beat a runner of his caliber is very satisfying.”

Johnson finished in 13.13 and liked what he saw in Liu.

“To get a time of 13.06 this early in the season is impressive,” he said. “I’ve been concerned about him ever since the world indoor championships.”

Johnson said his primary goal remained an Olympic victory.

“I will get the gold in Athens,” he said. “For me to expect anything less is selling myself short.”

American Sandra Glover won the women’s 400 hurdles in 54.95, and countrywoman Brenda Taylor was second in 55.43.