World and Olympic champion Maurice Greene has vowed to regain the world 100 metres record next season. American Tim Montgomery set a world best of 9.78 seconds in the Grand Prix final in Paris on Saturday, eclipsing Greene's three-year-old mark by 0.01 seconds.
"The time I've got in my head is 9.76. My coach thinks I can run 9.6-something. We'll have to see," Greene said after finishing fifth in the 100 metres at the Yokohama Super Track and Field meeting on Monday. "I knew when I broke the record it wouldn't last forever, but it belongs to me. It will come home."
Greene arrived in Japan from Paris late on Sunday after pulling out of the Grand Prix final. The American complained of jet-lag after clocking a pedestrian time of 10.56 in drizzly conditions. Bernard Williams, who finished third behind Greene at the world championships in Edmonton last year, crossed the line first in 10.21 with Nobuharu Asahara of Japan runner-up in 10.28.
"I'm tired. I just got here last night and I didn't sleep. My body feels asleep still. But I just wanted to finish the season healthy and I did that," said Greene. "The objective now is to be ready to defend my world championship title next year."
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
